Author: JT Smith
“Computer hackers who prey upon unsuspecting schools, striking fear in the hearts of entire communities with threats of violence, cannot go
unpunished,” said U.S. Senator Robert Torricelli (D-New Jersey). Wired News reports on Torricelli’s School Website Protection Act of 2001, a bill that, if it became law, would land anyone who “intentionally affects or impairs without authorization” a computer belonging to an educational instution in a federal prison for up to ten years. Critics say the bill is worded so vaguely that it could turn commonplace activities — such as a parent sending an e-mail message to their child’s teacher — into federal crimes to be investigated by the U.S. Secret Service.
unpunished,” said U.S. Senator Robert Torricelli (D-New Jersey). Wired News reports on Torricelli’s School Website Protection Act of 2001, a bill that, if it became law, would land anyone who “intentionally affects or impairs without authorization” a computer belonging to an educational instution in a federal prison for up to ten years. Critics say the bill is worded so vaguely that it could turn commonplace activities — such as a parent sending an e-mail message to their child’s teacher — into federal crimes to be investigated by the U.S. Secret Service.
