Ever fib about your age on a dating site? What about on Facebook?
These infractions could be a federal crime under an obscure 1986 anti-hacking law that was passed well before the advent of social networking sites.
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"Now it is possible for someone to be prosecuted for violating the user agreement in a social networking site," Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Va., said at a hearing Tuesday on Capitol Hill.
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Though the Justice Department has used the law to go after those who violate terms of service agreements, its track record is spotty.
It doesn't matter how it is being viewed today. What does matter is that such a law is on the books and if an administration finds an excuse to feel threatened it can use such a law to well... take care of the threat. It is no less threatening than having government come after you for saying negative thing about Obama. There is always someone in a position of power that will find such a law convenient for what they likely believe is serving their leaders.
I followed the link and the pertinent paragraph seems to be:
The debate centers on a law known as the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, which has been broadened several times since 1986. Critics of the law point most frequently to a section that imposes penalties on anyone who knowingly "exceeds authorized access" on a computer to obtain information.
I don't think that most violations of TOS that I hear about are "to obtain information" so it might be a tough sell to prosecute those.
I think you are generally right, but systematically wrong. I think that most internet violations of TOS would be either clicking send and posting something you should not have, thus giving you access to the next page which even has the information you just posted, thus you obtained information. Alternatively you could look at something that you should not have and thus gained that information.
If you anger someone in power or do something that keeps someone from making money they feel they earned, you are going to get bitten.
We debate this stuff now, in a few years, just like a wonderful blend of google and speeding cameras, your fine will simply show up via email in .00246 seconds after your offense, you will have an internet trial and the jury (those in the comments sections of all the articles you read) will declare you guilty all before you get the message of when you are required to show for lock up.
I think you are generally right, but systematically wrong. I think that most internet violations of TOS would be either clicking send and posting something you should not have, thus giving you access to the next page which even has the information you just posted, thus you obtained information. Alternatively you could look at something that you should not have and thus gained that information.
If you anger someone in power or do something that keeps someone from making money they feel they earned, you are going to get bitten.
We debate this stuff now, in a few years, just like a wonderful blend of google and speeding cameras, your fine will simply show up via email in .00246 seconds after your offense, you will have an internet trial and the jury (those in the comments sections of all the articles you read) will declare you guilty all before you get the message of when you are required to show for lock up.
Anyone else starting to feel violated?
It all in the potential and it's even more amazing how quickly seemingly nothingness laws can morph into something far more sinister. Besides, many laws find root without any of us ever having a say in them. Can anyone say don't trust them?
BTW posteryoyo, how did you come up with the exact time? I love it. We joke today and tomorrow ... we face reality.
