[conspire] Initiative to reform Computer Fraud and Abuse Act

[Rick Moen]

Opinions differ[tm] on political matters, and this is not the place for
advocacy (see closing two paragraphs).  Some folks including U.S.
Representative Zoe Lofgren (D. - California 19th District, San Jose)
find ample justification in the tragedies surrounding Aaron Swartz's
prosecution and recent suicide to amend the Federal Computer Fraud and
Abuse Act, 18 U.S.C. 1030.

Rep. Lofgren has introduced a bill called 'Aaron's Law'[1] that would
remove the CFAA provisions currently making it a _felony_ to violate a
Web site's terms fo service / user agreement -- the ones you never read
and roll your eyes about their sheer absurdity and unreasonableness if
you _do_ read them.  Aaron's Law would decriminalise violating such EULA
rubbish.

The late Mr. Swartz ran a non-profit political organisation to promote
reform of such laws, called demandprogress.org (Demand Progress).  Not
surprisingly, it has a campaign to e-mail your Congresscritters:
http://act.demandprogress.org/letter/aaron_justice/
(Darlene Wallach was kind enough to mention that.  Thanks, Darlene.)

Far be it from me to tell people they shouldn't hold the opposite
political view, of course:  If you think Web site EULAs -- which on a
good day at least pretend to be contracts -- should continue to hold
force under threat of criminal prosecution, feel free to let your
Congresscritter know of that, instead.


[1] http://www.reddit.com/r/technology/comments/16njr9/im_rep_zoe_lofgren_im_introducing_aarons_law_to/