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House OKs Life Sentences For Hackers

Posted by chrisd on from the but-still-okay-to-rip-off-the-stock-market dept.

ByteHog writes "The House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly Monday to create a new punishment of life imprisonment for malicious computer hackers. The article on MSNBC also mentions that police can conduct internet or telephone eavesdropping without first obtaining a court order. Says a Rep from Texas: 'A mouse can be just as dangerous as a bullet or a bomb.'" Other articles can be found here and the text of the bill is available.

3 of 801 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Typical by linzeal · · Score: 1, Redundant

    Move to england and see what america will look like in 10 years.

    --
    An Education is the Font of All Liberty
  2. Re:Its not as harsh as it sounds. by Bartmoss · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Ah, but if I remember correctly - IANAL and I am not American either - computer crime/fraud across state lines already is a federal crime.

    and in those cases the communication does not cross state lines, it probably rightfully belongs into the state courts anyway.

    Either way this thing sounds like overkill.

  3. Re:Except by anthony_dipierro · · Score: 1, Redundant

    That murder is usually a State, not Federal, matter. In the case of a hacker, who may be operating across State lines, it is proper for the Federal Government to get involved.

    If you kill someone across state lines, you can be charged federally with murder or negligent homicide or whatever.