[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
[FYI] (Fwd) FC: Virginia criminalizes "Up Yours" mailbombing too
- To: debate@fitug.de
- Subject: [FYI] (Fwd) FC: Virginia criminalizes "Up Yours" mailbombing too
- From: Horns@t-online.de (Axel H. Horns)
- Date: Sat, 27 Feb 1999 10:04:57 +0100
- Comment: This message comes from the debate mailing list.
- Organization: Private Site
- Priority: normal
- Reply-to: horns@t-online.de
- Sender: owner-debate@fitug.de
------- Forwarded Message Follows -------
Date: Fri, 26 Feb 1999 18:54:25 -0500
To: politech@vorlon.mit.edu
From: Declan McCullagh <declan@well.com>
Subject: FC: Virginia criminalizes "Up Yours" mailbombing tools
Reply-to: declan@well.com
>Date: Wed, 24 Feb 1999 13:40:07 -0500
>From: Jamie McCarthy <jamie@mccarthy.org>
>Subject: Virginia criminalizes "Up Yours"
>
>"Up Yours" and a hundred other stupid programs like it are
>mailbombing tools. Some kid with a half a brain sat down
>and wrote a program to send out a flood of unsolicited mail
>with a forged return address; it takes advantage of open
>mail servers.
>
>Yesterday, the Virginia State Legislature passed a law which
>makes spamming a misdemeanor along with the more traditional
>forms of computer theft: breaking into systems, erasing
>data, and so on. Oh yes -- and if you distribute software
>which "facilitates" spamming, you are subject to twice the
>penalties: $1000 per offense, that is, per download of the
>software.
>
>Thousands of ftp sites around the world that happen to host
>"Up Yours" or similar programs will be operated by criminals,
>once the governor signs this into law. Running an anonymous
>remailer that fails to take steps to eliminate "bulk" mail
>abuse is probably also illegal, since they "falsify" the
>header information.
>
>The summary:
>
> The bill provides for statutory civil damages of at least
> $500 for each and every illegal and unsolicited bulk
> electronic mail message transmitted or actual damages,
> whichever is greater or $1000 for each and every violation
> of the prohibition on selling or distributing software
> which makes possible the transmission of false e-mail.
>
>The law:
>
> B. It shall be unlawful for any person to sell, give or
> otherwise distribute or possess with the intent to sell, give
> or distribute software which facilitates or enables the
> falsification of electronic mail header information or other
> Internet routing information for the purpose of sending
> unsolicited bulk electronic mail through or into the facilities
> of an electronic mail service provider or its subscribers.
>
>http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?ses=991&typ=bil&val=sb881
>http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?991+ful+SB881
>
>The ACLU is challenging the law.
>
>http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/news/0,4586,2215334,00.html
>
>--
> Jamie McCarthy
> jamie@mccarthy.org
> http://jamie.mccarthy.org/
----------------------------------------------------------------------
---- POLITECH -- the moderated mailing list of politics and technology
To subscribe: send a message to majordomo@vorlon.mit.edu with this
text: subscribe politech More information is at
http://www.well.com/~declan/politech/
----------------------------------------------------------------------
----