Senate Republicans are trying to de-emphasize and down play the unauthorized viewing of Senate Democrats' files. The Committee for Justice claims that "the behavior did not violate the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1984, which makes it a criminal act to exceed one's authorization to access a government computer."
I think it does. I don't see how there could be a gray area here. Clearly, that law was broken. The question now becomes, if there was written policy to allow for charges to be filed. There are many questions that remain to be answered. I'm just waiting for the list of perpetrators.
Beryl Howell, former general counsel for the Judiciary Committee, says, "Just because you can do it doesn't mean it's right, doesn't mean it's ethical, and doesn't mean it's legal."
That's quite true. If no one is looking, it doesn't make it right to steal something.
Another quote that I find interesting is this one: " 'Basically, for most people, they were historical -- about events that already happened,' the staffer said, speaking on condition of anonymity." These are of course historical. No one can write about what's yet to happen.
Full story here.
Posted by yakuza at January 23, 2004 10:31 AM | TrackBack