Slashdot Mirror


ToS Violations No Longer a Crime (On Their Own)

nonprofiteer writes "The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act previously made 'unauthorized access to a computer system' a crime — meant to apply to hackers, it also criminalized violations of a website's ToS or of a workplace's computer policies. The law is being changed to make the crime a felony rather than a misdemeanor, which led some to worry about the potential for its abuse. However, Senators Franken and Grassley added an amendment (PDF) to exempt violations of ToS and employer policies from the lists of felony activity. w00t for common sense."

3 of 162 comments (clear)

  1. Still crimes, even on their own by DaveV1.0 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    A misdemeanor is still a crime, just a less serious crime. The amendment exempts ToS violations from being felonies, but does not stop them from being misdemeanors, then they are still crimes.

    --
    There is no "-1 offended" or "-1 you don't agree with me" mod options for a reason.
  2. Re:The original Startrek by meerling · · Score: 1, Insightful

    No matter what, we know they will be abused. They always have been, they always will be. The only way to change that is to fundamentally change humans, and I don't see that happening for a very very long time.

  3. Re:Sorry but.... by Daniel_Staal · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Sounds like a plan. Revoke all laws 10-20 years after they are passed, unless they can pass again.

    Give the congresscritters something to do, so they can feel useful.

    --
    'Sensible' is a curse word.