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Whatever gets "punished", doesn't always have to be criminal | 144 comments | Create New Account
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Whatever gets "punished", doesn't always have to be criminal
Authored by: Gringo_ on Tuesday, January 29 2013 @ 02:37 PM EST

Legislators need to remember that we have civil laws that should work well enough as a deterrent in many cases. Hit them where it hurts - in the pocket book.

Save criminal laws for criminals. High school and university pranks, things young people will naturally do, should never be criminalized unless there was real criminal intent. That should be obvious. Even these viruses, like you all will remember the "I love you" virus. That was a young guy and AFAIR the virus didn't do any harm, but they put him away for a long time - as a criminal. I don't think "harmless" virus writers should be charged with a criminal offense. They are a different category entirely from those who write viruses in the former Soviet Union countries to get banking info to scam. These latter they should lock them up and throw away the key.

That's the problem with these IT "crimes" - lack of proportionality. Same with copyright offenses.

[ Reply to This | Parent | # ]

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