Illegal Possession of Controlled Devices (was: IN BAD TASTE...)

From: Roger Merchberger <zmerch_at_30below.com>
Date: Fri Sep 13 22:33:00 2002

At 23:35 09/12/2002 -0400, you wrote:

>Illegal to own it? Zog! When are we going to start hearing that
>owning computers with mass storage devices, computers designed to use
>mass storage devices, or mass storage devices, are illegal acts? How
>soon before the illegal posession of "controlled devices" will be as
>serious, or more serious, a crime as the illegal posession of
>"controlled substances?"

Honestly, prolly *less* likely, as the Ooh Ess of Aah has been lightening
up on crypto laws, altho Snuffle is still illegal - prolly because it's
better than what the No Such Agency has... ;-)

Dunno Snuffle? Look up "DJB" & "qmail" -- that should give you more...

> Next, it will be illegal (or at least easier
>to get caught... it's probably already illegal) to open up one's cable
>TV converter box to check for hidden microphones and cameras.

Bzzzt. Wrong answer. At least for now, it's not illegal to open up what you
have (or even what you don't *own*) provided you don't make modifications
to it. You can legally own a Colt AR-15 rifle (read: civilian version of
the M-16 automatic rifle) and *legally* own the full-auto conversion kit...
you are not in violation of any laws until you actually *install* the kit.
(Erm... Scheayah, here in the US... those over the Ponds I can't vouch for...)

Granted, I don't have a crystal ball... this may not hold to the future...
and I'm certainly not saying they're not *actively trying* to amend these
laws... (re: DMCA, and it's ilk...)

>How long before we're all going to have to begin using "internet
>appliances" so that we can't do subversive things like keeping backups
>of our own data? Will it soon become a federal felony to use
>computers that aren't connected to the Internet all of the time so
>that they can be spied on at any time?

FidoNet & Usenet... here we come!

Time to design some "unhackable" crypto that runs on a CoCo! (Or at least a
STacy, if you need 16-bit power...)

A buddy of mine *still* runs an active Tandy Model 10x/200 BBS! The
American people have always prevailed, despite the Gubbermint & it's
laws... ;-)

Enough OT ramblings borne of foreign & domestic brews...
Roger "Merch" Merchberger
Received on Fri Sep 13 2002 - 22:33:00 BST