Re: Transparent society?: Feds raid hobby vendors

From: Michael M. Butler (butler@comp-lib.org)
Date: Fri Jan 07 2000 - 19:00:20 MST


Take a look around http://www.ramseyelectronics.com/ ,
http://www.ramseyelectronics.com/scstore/sitepages/hobby/fedpage2.htm
and
http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/18/2512.html

Feel free to not change your mind. *Shrug*.

...I invite you to factor out the 2600 Magazine phreak/cracker component
from the link I first gave. I managed to, somehow.

Now, Supercircuits might have been promoting unlicensed use of 452 MHz.
Possibly Ramsey did too. As a right-thinking radio amateur myself, I
deplore this. Mostly because getting a ham license just isn't that hard
any more.

I have my doubts that Ramsey deserved to get busted by people with guns
(*if* they did) any more than Steve Jackson Games. And it pisses me off.

Zetetically yours,

MMB

PS: Ob relevance to Extropians, in case you were wondering: One might
infer that this is the worm turning (writhing?) as an overture of the
choice Brin says we will face in _Transparent Society_. One might, if
one were capable of focusing past one's nose.

Interesting times.

Harvey Newstrom wrote:
>
> > > > > http://www.2600.com/news/1999/1218.html
> > > And on the gripping hand, these are probably the same twits that send me
> > > spam like:
> > >
> > > THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT FOR LEGAL TV
> > > DE-SCRAMBLER. IF YOU HAVE NO INTEREST IN THIS INFORMATION
> > > PLEASE CLICK DELETE NOW. THANK YOU
> > >
> > > I think they just got clicked.
>
> That was my thought as well, although the web page does not give enough
> details. It wasn't clear what crime was charged or why the web page felt
> the raid was unnecessary. It just described the raid in emotional terms
> that makes the reader side with the victim.
>
> Editing out just the negative facts, probably out of context:
> These companies operated for years selling educational electronic kits (like
> wireless microphones) to various groups including hackers. Now their owners
> are facing bankruptcy and prison time. Violations include wiretapping and
> smuggling. They seem to claim that small "Mr. Microphone" type toys should
> not be restricted by wiretapping and smuggling laws. Bill Cheek was
> indicted for selling data-slicer circuits that could intercept data
> transmissions. BernieS was locked up for possessing equipment built from
> parts available at Radio Shack. He was distributing parts, software, books,
> and pamphlets about cellular and coin telephones.
>
> It sounds like hackers who got caught to me.
> --
> Harvey Newstrom <http://harveynewstrom.com>
> Certified Consultant, Legal Hacker, Engineer, Research Scientist, Author.



This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Thu Jul 27 2000 - 14:02:08 MDT