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0 pointsSomeone12347y ago0 comments

It is worth considering that we've gone through several moral panics about "hacking," particularly in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

That's why computer crime laws are so disproportionate (e.g. spray paint a physical sign get a $100 fine, vandalize a digital sign get five-ten years in prison). They were written when a bunch of ignorant lawmakers were freaking out about hackers turn off electricity or wiping out the stock market.

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crankylinuxuser7y ago

Yep.

I've been shouted down at our work book club while reading Mitnicks memoir. I said that a good amount of early hacking was "e-trespass" and "e-vandalism". The non-e versions of those crimes are low grade misdemeanors.

Yet, it was a bunch of shitty laws that somehow elevate them to manslaughter and 2nd degree murder equalivalent.

Avamander7y ago

This might be also because most governments and police absolutely lack the knowledge to catch any cybercriminals or to even understand the crimes. The punishment isn't surprising to me if I take their fear into account.

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