From: Steve Schear <azur@netcom.com>
Date: Mon, 27 Oct 1997 09:32:12 +0800
To: Eric Cordian <cypherpunks@cyberpass.net
Subject: Re: Click HERE for Boy Sex
In-Reply-To: <199710262243.QAA10648@wire.insync.net>
Message-ID: <v03102801b0798c951c9e@[208.129.55.202]>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain



>Of course, this is an interesting legal question.  Clearly, offering
>raw Usenet content the ISP doesn't originate absolutely shields the ISP
>from responsibility for the material, under current telecommunications
>law.
>
>The unanswered legal question is whether processing the raw news feed
>in some way, such as would be needed to provide web access to decoded
>pictures, also enjoys the same protection.
>
>It would seem that automatic transcoding of Usenet, in a way which is
>not content sensitive, should not be considered the origination of new
>content.  On the other hand, the Feds are hardly going to sit still
>for a URL which, when clicked upon, fills ones browser screen with
>hundreds of thumbnails of blond pre-teen Scandinavian boys in
>mid-orgasm, with a legend which reads - "Click on thumbnail to get
>full-sized picture." And all for only $6 a month.

Despite the sometimes controversial contents of Usenet feeds it is unlikely
that the Feds will move to put the kabosh on Usenet.  Services, like
Etermity, which merely act as reference engines to simplify Usenet access
are also unlikely to be targeted.  Even services which refresh existing
Usenet feeds to provide persistence may be off-limits, especially if the
articles are encrypted, the service does not possess the key and it is the
client browsers which decrypt and handle the cleartext.

The Feds are undoubtedly honing their skills at traffic analysis for
locating posters and email correspondants of interest.  It is the
cypherpunk role to provide the means to keep the Fed nose from coming under
the privacy tent.

--Steve

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Steve Schear (N7ZEZ)     | Internet: azur@netcom.com
7075 West Gowan Road     | Voice: 1-702-658-2654
Suite 2148               | Fax: 1-702-658-2673
Las Vegas, NV 89129      | economic and crypto dissident
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	The push by western governments for financial transparency and
	banning unrestricted use of cryptography is blatent politicial
	tyranny.

	Free Cypherpunk Political Prisoner Jim Bell