European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 23, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse Crackdown on computer crime raises civil liberties issues by John Markoff new York tim6s from los Angeles to Atlanta Federal and state Law enforcement agents have begun an intense Battle against computer operators who break into government and business data systems. The agents under mounting pressure from corporations and lawmakers say the crackdown is needed to halt a growing threat to Commerce research and National Security. But increasingly civil liberties experts and even some computer Industry executives say the crackdown is affecting computer users who Are not breaking the Law. These experts say such users Are being intimidated and Are suffering illegal searches and violations of their constitutional guarantees to free speech. In Many ways the computer crackdown parallels the Campaign against drugs with officials responding to an outcry Over a serious problem Only to confront another outcry Over assaults on civil rights. Quot it s a whole new Era Quot said Stephen Mcnamee . Attorney for Arizona who has been a Central figure in government efforts to counter computer crime. Quot computers Are providing a new Avenue for criminal activities. It is possible to transmit computer information for an illegal purpose in the blink of an but rep. Don Edwards d-calif., said the authorities had gone too far. Quot every time there is a perceived crisis Law enforcement agencies and legislators overreact and usually due process and civil liberties suffer Quot Edwards said. A the fourth amendment provides strict limits on rummaging through Peoples the largest of several investigations under Way around the country is a two year old Federal Effort called operation Sun Devil in which about 40 personal computer systems including 23,000 data disks have been seized from Homes and businesses. The seizures resulting from 28 search warrants in 14 cities halted the operations of some computer bulletin boards Telephone linked services that permit users to Post and read messages. Little or any of the confiscated equipment has been returned. In All seven people have been arrested so far. One computer game maker who has not been charged says he is on the verge of going out of business since investigators seized his equipment. In related inquiries the secret service has surreptitiously eavesdropped on computer bulletin boards and Telephone conversations and in the process agents have entered these networks posing As legitimate users and traded information. In an unrelated investigation of the theft of an important program from Apple computer inc. Last year dozens of experts and hobbyists have recently been interrogated by the Fri. Civil libertarians and some business executives have begun to organize defences. Among them is Mitchell d. Kapor creator of americans most popular software program the Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet who is planning to help finance a Legal defense fund of several Hundred thousand dollars for some of those accused. Harvey Silverglate a Massachusetts lawyer and civil liberties expert who is working with Kapor said Quot you have innocent people who Are being terrorized As Well As investigations of people who have broken the he termed the government actions a a typical american solution throw your Best and brightest in officials of the secret service which since 1984 has been the primary Federal enforcer of computer fraud Laws believe that an alarming number of Bright Young computer enthusiasts Are using computers illegally. Quot often Quot said Gary m. Jenkins secret service assistant director Quot a progression of criminal activity occurs which involves telecommunication fraud unauthorized Access to other computers credit card fraud and then moves on to other destructive activities like computer a 1986 Federal Law on computer fraud and abuse makes it a crime to enter computers or take information from them without authorization. But Kapor of Lotus said he believed the danger posed by the computer Joy riders had been greatly exaggerated. A now that the communists Arentt our enemies anymore the american psyche has to end up inventing new ones Quot he said. He and other experts Are also alarmed by new investigative techniques that employ computers. The Power of advanced machines multiplies the risk of search and seizure violations these experts say because they can perform so Many simultaneous tasks and absorb and Analyse so much information. Moreover civil liberties advocates say the perils Are greater because Legal precedents Are not Clear on How the first amendment protects speech and the fourth amendment protects against searches and seizures in the electronic world. In response to a court enforceable request under the Freedom of information act the secret service has acknowledged that it has monitored computer bulletin boards. In its answer to the request made by Edwards the Agency said its agents acting As legitimate users had secretly monitored communications on computer bulletin boards. The Agency also disclosed it had a new computer diagnostic Center in which the data on computer disks seized in raids is evaluated by machines operating automatically. Civil liberties specialists View such practices As potentially harmful. They say computer mail unrelated to an investigation could be swept up in the governments electronic dragnet if the Law is not carefully tailored to a Well defined purpose. World cup Roundup a Page 23 thes a ripes sat Artsy. Jury a 190 d m93 .sr Iran quake kills at least 25,000 Nicosia by priv at a Ai earthquake Iha tiered Tigi Vicria 7.7 of the Richter teak that Undt Ina of a Orth tru Iru Early Thun Day. Kulu it lean 21,000 sept im97i, kill 25.000 Procik. Of Dee. 7. Ill people Tod no Ilia teas of thou Audi Irula official twirly the taste somber of people did is a quake la aau Oraeed. Sorby soviet Anoruo that Ritu Torto 6.9. The quake shortly after midair it Dino Libed Corat thur buy i temblor mra red 7. Of the Richter of Nuijen and leu Tad buried thou Tandi of people teak the Otoo Briks Cester to Tehran univ Emty a their Homes. The Truida a Paioa to the Uei cd mid. The a ideological Survey however. No Maurad it two which Rel Caad the casualty Loo Taid it would it at 7.7.bad Nie further u rat cuts reached More Noel at least a Doe a Aften Hocka Hook the it Foa within. Quot a no Boun after the quake. The earthquake struck at the earthquake a at least Ai Bat a the quake 8m quake on Beoh Page House defeats proposed Flag amendment a who Washington api the Kooc of thursday Quot reeled a prop card to Pra m required to feud it m the Nam for Tia Cater. Seput Terai voted 1 9-17 for it of Boom 180-95 the Senate it cd packed to rat a Al week of the Anc Dacal re quirk to Saaras As Wixs Quot that a Rupee Usall Soru of Jobu. How thou but or Puri Day of debut featuring Aen to Dudi jaw and dewy a s Cut Kaep s?sjs7ffis?ss73dssss so so a a a a sett Ltd Ueck Point change a a bidding Charlie Adieu Arkita Feenan is lbs a Thymn. 7h Teaa Quot Eek 1m Babr it Dot was la by maed la Yeav Taine to Biet k Check charts Cheney asks to cancel 65 overseas projects Ywuc Vinch Washington a def Era secret dark a pfc Chewey. A a a Tiaa of that Enid bears. Baa Fri eased a list of 5 overseas Ooms Veteo proven . On his list of m proposal Tubandt Ltd to Cam Thun Day. Oahu three Art la the Uhuad stale tha by repeat pro cat Laded siae to Sook a Ltd it Taboa had Vur Toua upgrade. Tha prefect induce both new Tiona stimmpaa4 tha tin add up to woe than 1 27 a illum a Fra diff that Mcgraa bloody Haa approved. To Aerts lha prefect. Tam Akanmu withdrew tha a Prera known at Radika. Tha Threa aug Aida prefect a a <1 Misifoa Keetrel Plarl Tautoa Mirsie fab la Kudak Ari. Aud a j 11.000 a be Asroff Afsa cars to n.wni.1�?1 for do diag. Askell Why Chewey had Pul Quot Coin it a ice Laslea of More Sui aide prefect. Which is sure to be caul Reiou of Eliol Lutu William said the lot Marata cuu that could be made Simk jaad tasty without a data id Bra erect we review. A the Are the deck i we eat make wow that Don t Requina Homuth away lit,1 we Leacu said. A Vtha others require Quot a Sis Listl la Hovy mrw port Loru Ujj Side Tkv Hgt Eloc Al itt port needs Eor Idunk it the Koa of a a wed Oda la a a Abr of the thu Over the Nicra it re Obi new world football league name Gam Page 25 every Day can make a world of difference in your life in a world that never takes a Day to rest every Day can make a world of difference. A Day can mean the difference Between a Campaign and a Victory. A budget and a budget Cut. A revolutionary idea and a revolution. The stars and stripes has All the news it takes to keep you on top of the world s events. And a subscription to the stars and stripes can assure you that you la never fall a Day behind. Call one of our circulation offices today listing on Page 11 for your subscription to the stars and stripes. Or write to the sars and so ropes attn sales promotion Apo 09211 the stars and stripes a we can make a world of difference in your life. Every Day. Saturday june 23, 1990 the stars and stripes a a a Page 17
