-Caveat Lector- CLUE BOT http://www.cluebot.com/article.pl?sid=01/07/28/2336239&mode=nested CYBER NOTES A U.K. law that took effect this year gives police far-ranging powers to make warrantless arrests, enter buildings without court orders, and punish people for having information that could be useful to terrorists. Parliament, after lengthy debate, defined "terrorism" as any threat to influence any government (U.K. or other) or group "for the purpose of advancing a political, religious or ideological cause." Actions that are punishable include those that threaten or carry out "serious damage to property," endanger public safety, or are "designed seriously to interfere with or seriously to disrupt an electronic system." If you think that covers hackers, well, you're right. And it's no accident. A ZDNET article reports that: "Computer hackers could be classed as terrorists under a U.K. law." So does this Register write up. An IDG article in February confirmed that the Home Office plans to prosecute hackers under the Terrorism Act. Unfortunately, the reporter never mentioned some of the more disturbing aspects of the law. It allows police to randomly stop people on streets, who are then required to give their names (so much for anonymity) or go to prison. Cops can seize any cash that they believe "is intended to be used for the purposes of terrorism," with no court authorization required. Gone is the traditional burden of proof: Judges are required to assume that contraband in the same building as the accused is owned by the accused "unless he proves that he did not know of its presence on the premises or that he had no control over it." Perhaps the most fascinating section restricts even owning information that could be useful to "a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism." . . . Americans, be warned. Congress is spending more and more time talking about bio-chem, Internet, and nuclear attacks. Soon you could be facing the same invasions of privacy and property. <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/";>ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
