Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!mailrus!ulowell!tegra!vail
From: vail@tegra.UUCP (Johnathan Vail)
Newsgroups: comp.misc
Subject: Re: What Are A Sysop's Responsibilities? (Was: Computer Virus Hearings)
Message-ID: <522@atlas.tegra.UUCP>
Date: 2 Jun 89 19:57:04 GMT
References: <154@oldcolo.UUCP> <4246@ficc.uu.net> <513@atlas.tegra.UUCP> <11853@well.UUCP> <50300@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu>
Distribution: usa
Organization: Tegra, Inc., Billerica, MA
Lines: 32
In-reply-to: mowgli@bat.cis.ohio-state.edu's message of 31 May 89 02:57:43 GMT

In article <50300@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu> mowgli@bat.cis.ohio-state.edu (Mowgli Assor) writes:

   I'd suppose that there are FCC documents around (or some government-type docs)
   that specify what a BBS sysop can & can not go to jail for. Given of course
   that there are different ethics, there are probably also legal documents some-
   where about this subject. Where can I find these?

   I suppose an example might clear things up a little. A sysop here in Columbus
   reads ALL private mail on the BBS, because she claims that someone was arrested
   because call girls were using his BBS *IN PRIVATE MAIL!* to make appointments.

"Electronic Mail" on a BBS sitting in some one's living room should
not be thoght of as private.  Broadcasting your conversation over
radio should not be considered private.  The ECPA is supposed to make
this private by making it illegal.  If someone has evil intent do you
think that an un-enforceable law will prevent them.

   I have *NO* idea whether this case actually exists, or whether she made it up
   to support her point, so I'd like to find any precedents that exist for this &
   any other cases which pertain to private mail on BBSs.

   I have vehemently disagreed with her, viewing (so labelled) 'private' mail the
   same as the mail coming via the U.S. Postal Service (albeit slightly faster,
   usually 9-). Am I right, is she wrong, & where can I find documentation to
   support my stance (or hers, for that matter)?

"A liberal is someone too poor to be a capitalist
 and too rich to be a communist."
 _____
|     | Johnathan Vail | tegra!N1DXG@ulowell.edu
|Tegra| (508) 663-7435 | N1DXG@145.110-,145.270-,444.2+,448.625-
 -----