From: "I=(!isnum(self))" <geeman@best.com>
Date: Tue, 13 Aug 1996 04:54:08 +0800
To: cypherpunks@toad.com
Subject: don't say "bomb" on the internet
Message-ID: <320F625E.1744@best.com>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain


Below is from EFF source.

Does anyone have specifics on where this piece of idiocy is supposedly
going from here?  When does Congress reconvene on this issue?

Any specific activities going on regarding this piece of crap?


[begin quote]========================================================================


This is the language that Feinstein inserted into the Defense 
Authorization Act.  It has been passed by the Senate.  This is not
good, but significantly different from her first effort last Spring (a 
similar amendment, to the S.735 anti-terrorism bill of 1995). This
language is technology-neutral.  However, it does have a very slippery
'intent' or 'knowledge' standard, and though the language of the bill 
does not directly focus on the Internet, all of Feinstein's commentary on 
the Senate floor and to the press have focused exclusively on 
"bomb-making information" on the Internet.  Though this new version of 
her Net censorship proposal is possibly constitutional, unlike the 
earlier one, a key question that all constituents and journalists need to 
ask of Sen. Feinstein is: If you are simply trying to criminalize online 
incitement of, or conspiracy to commit, murder by bomb, then what on 
earth does this bill do?  Both of these things are *already illegal* 
online or offline.



                                           S.1762

Department of Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997 (Passed by the
Senate)

SEC. 1088. PROHIBITION ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF INFORMATION
RELATING TO EXPLOSIVE MATERIALS FOR A CRIMINAL PURPOSE.

       (a) UNLAWFUL CONDUCT- Section 842 of title 18, United States Code,
is amended by adding at the end the
       following new subsection:

       `(l) It shall be unlawful for any person to teach or demonstrate the
making of explosive materials, or to distribute by any means information
pertaining to, in whole or in part, the manufacture of explosive materials,
if the person intends or knows, that such explosive materials or
information will be used for, or in furtherance of, an activity that
constitutes a Federal criminal offense or a criminal purpose affecting
interstate commerce.'.

       (b) PENALTY- Section 844(a) of title 18, United States Code, is 
amended--

              (1) by striking `(a) Any person' and inserting `(a)(1) Any
person'; and

              (2) by adding at the end the following:

       `(2) Any person who violates subsection (l) of section 842 of this
chapter shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 20 years,
or both.'.