From the article:
---------
In fact, Milanowski was unaware the practice known as "piggybacking" was
illegal, so his did a bit of legal research. "I had a feeling a law was
being broken," said Milanowski. He found Michigan's "Fraudulent access to
computers, computer systems, and computer networks" law, a felony punishable
by five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
---------
I'm surprised by the law used by the prosecution. About 15 yrs ago I gave
expert witness testimony in a similar case in Ohio, but Ohio's law was
specific to breaking into a "government run" computer network. In the Ohio
case the computer network being broken into was operated by and for public
safety, and there was a clear public safety danger in people breaking in.
The person who broke in was intentionally eavesdropping on public safety
communications. I felt it was an appropriate and important law, but it's
quite doubtful that the coffee shop's wifi could ever be considered a
"government computer network," even if police may sometimes sit there using
it along with other customers. Laws can vary from state to state, but I'm
very surprised that any state would apply this law to a public computer
network like the Internet that's actually INTENDED for public use. If the
Michigan felony law is not specific to government networks I think it should
be changed. I think it's wrong for a 5yr felony crime being applied to
public wifi.
Rich
----- Original Message -----
From: Smith, Rick
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; Principal WISPA Member List ; WISPA General List ;
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Monday, May 28, 2007 8:46 AM
Subject: [WISPA] Man fined for stealing WiFi
Precedents are starting :)
http://government.zdnet.com/?p=3175
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