Computer underground Digest Sun Nov 26, 1995 Volume 7 : Issue 91
ISSN 1004-042X
Editors: Jim Thomas and Gordon Meyer (TK0JUT2@MVS.CSO.NIU.EDU
Archivist: Brendan Kehoe
Shadow Master: Stanton McCandlish
Field Agent Extraordinaire: David Smith
Shadow-Archivists: Dan Carosone / Paul Southworth
Ralph Sims / Jyrki Kuoppala
Ian Dickinson
Cu Digest Homepage: http://www.soci.niu.edu/~cudigest
CONTENTS, #7.91 (Sun, Nov 26, 1995)
File 1--Re: CyberAngels
File 2--Guardian Angel NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER
File 3--Re: CuD, #7.89 - Govt & Net Censorship
File 4--French agreement to use Netscape Navigator
File 5--ACLU Cyber-Liberties Update -- 11/22/95
File 6--Cu Digest Header Info (unchanged since 5 Nov, 1995)
CuD ADMINISTRATIVE, EDITORIAL, AND SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION APPEARS IN
THE CONCLUDING FILE AT THE END OF EACH ISSUE.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Sun, 5 Nov 1995 20:42 EDT
From: "E. ALLEN SMITH" <EALLENSMITH@MBCL.RUTGERS.EDU>
Subject: File 1--Re: CyberAngels
Dear Sirs:
While some proposed activities of the "CyberAngels" are
difficult to object to, others are threats to violate the civil
liberties of users of the Internet. These can be classified into
two categories: violations of freedom of speech and press, and
violations of the rights of interaction of consenting adults. The
former would include their threatened actions regarding: allegedly
obscene material; "indecent" materials that they feel are too
available to persons under the age of 18; anonymous (and, one would
suspect, pseudonymous) speech; allegedly harassing speech; and
political ("hate") speech. Those regarding the activities of
consenting adults would, according to their phrasing, include any
actions illegal in the state or country in question, such as
homosexual activity in many U.S. states. In addition, the record of
the Guardian Angels suggests that they will step over even the
bounds that they publicly set for themselves.
I would like to make a suggestion to the readers of the
Computer Underground Digest, and to other users of the Internet, as
to the best way to deal with this organization. This idea is to use
one problem (the "CyberAngels") to counter another (net-abuse such
as spamming). Simply forward copies of spamming (done via email,
USENET, or other means) to the "ganetwatch@aol.com" address, and
ask them to deal with the problem. Some of it is definitely
included under the "fraud" category in their statement (i.e.,
pyramid schemes such as "MAKE MONEY FAST"), and others are at the
minimum deprivation of service and possibly true harassment. I am
hopeful that the volume of mail received on this count will be
great enough that they will be unable to carry out any improper
actions. If they fail to try to do anything about the spamming
problem, then they can be exposed as frauds themselves. Other forms
of net-abuse that may be emailed to them would include falsified
rmgroup and cancel messages (if these were not committed by the
CyberAngels themselves, of course).
This suggestion may be combined with the "cyberspawn" cancel
mechanism on Usenet, through a daemon at various sites
automatically mailing the spam to "ganetwatch@aol.com" prior (if
this is wanted) to cancellation. A form of it can also be used
against any other organization seeking informants via computer
networks.
Sincerely Yours,
-Allen Smith (EALLENSMITH@MBCL.RUTGERS.EDU)
This message may be freely redistributed on the Internet, on other
computer networks, and on BBSes if it is left completely intact and
the distributor is not a Guardian Angel. I encourage doing so.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 14 Nov 1995 06:41:15 -0600
From: bladex@BGA.COM(David Smith)
Subject: File 2--Guardian Angel NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER
This is somewhat long, but attached is the November newsletter of the
Guardian Angels CyberAngels Internet Monitoring Project. I did not write any
of this, but am forwarding it as an item of interest.
Most notable is the allegation of contacting 50 separate sysadmins and
providing them with evidence about individual users trading child pornagraphy.
>From--GANetWatch@aol.com
>Date--Tue, 14 Nov 1995 13:38:26 -0500
>Subject--NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER
>Apparently-To--<bladex@bga.com>
>
>CYBERANGELS
>INTERNET MONITORING PROJECT
>November 1995 Newsletter
>********************
>Hi! And a special welcome to the many of you who are new on our newsletter
>mailing list this month. SECONDLY - if you are on this list by mistake...our
>apologies. Our mailing list got damaged and we had to rebuild it from
>scratch! Let us know (again!) if you wish to unsubscribe. Sorry!
>
>Firstly let me (Gabriel) introduce my colleague to you. His name is Patrik
>Olterman, and he is originally from Sweden. Like me he is a veteran Guardian
>Angel, and is now working with me coordinating the CyberAngels project. FYI
>we are both based in Hollywood, CA. No, not the nice part :) Oh, and in the
>Guardian Angels he has a nickname. We call him "Harlequin".
>
>The past month has been excellent for the project. Firstly all thanks to
>SAFESURF - to Ray Soular and Wendy Simpson - for donating us a home page on
>the www. This made our project global for the first time. Safesurf and
>CyberAngels are working together as two concerned groups, to help protect
>our cyberneighborhood. Ray and Wendy are truly are good people. THANKS you
>guys! We encourage all our volunteers and newsletter members to check out
>Safesurf's home pages and to subscribe to their newsletter. You can reach
>them via hyperlink from the CyberAngels home page at
>
>http://www.safesurf.com/cyberangels/
>or go directly to http://www.safesurf.com/wave/
>
>Read especially Safesurf's "Declaration of an Independent InterNet" We
>support it 100% !
>
>By the way, if you have already visited our homepage, VISIT IT AGAIN! :) We
>will be changing and developing it, and adding more links, as we develop our
>project. We would certainly welcome your suggestions as to how we can
>improve things.
>
>Oh, before I forget...we wished everyone a Happy Halloween...but that message
>was written by Harlequin, who is Swedish, and he spelled it wrong! :( He
>wrote "Haloween". I guess he was thinking of Angels :)
>********************
>INTERNET AND COMPUTER EXPO IN FLORIDA
>
>We will be down in Florida for the 1,2 and 3 December, with a booth at the
>InterNet and Computer Expo '95. This is thanks to a donation (worth $1000!)
>of space there by Frank Rocco, one of the organizers. Thanks Frank! FYI
>CyberAngels is an all volunteer project, coordinated from a Macintosh
>Powerbook 150 (honest!), and we do not have many resources. But we need to
>spread the message, so help us in any way you can! You can contact the I & C
>Expo on 1 305 941 2400, or 1-800-330-1900, or email to
>expos@InterNetmarketing.com. The expo by the way will be at Broward County
>Convention Centre, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA. We hope to meet some of
>you there!
>********************
>CYBERANGELS REACH AUSTRALIA
>
>One of the results of our global reach for volunteers, after Safesurf's www
>homepage donation, was that we started receiving volunteers from Australia.
> There also followed 6 radio shows all over Australia, and an article in the
>Sydney Morning Herald, explaining our work. Child Pornography on the
>InterNet seems to be very much an issue of the day in Australia. And so it
>should be - everywhere. Welcome to all our new friends from Down Under!
>
>Check out especially: http://www.australia-today.com
>
>One of our new volunteers is running it :) Hi Hans! Hans is very much
>involved in DOING something positive. He wrote as follows (and Im quoting
>you Hans because this letter was public - hope thats ok):
>
>>I am no wowser, adult material does not faze me, but when I >see detailled
>instructions on how to rape a four year old, >together with photographs of
>the actual event, even I feel >that something needs to be done. Not to
>mention how to make >bombs, break into houses and cars and how to kill
>someone >efficiently with a knife.
>>I am not making this up - it's all there.
>>From your responses I know that many of you have seen this >material also.
>>Please keep in touch, we need concerned people like you to >keep these kind
>of excesses in check. Censorship is not the >answer. History shows this has
>never worked. Let us try to at >least shield our children from this sort of
>material, they'll >grow up soon enough.
>>Together we can make a difference, let's do it.
>>Hans von Lieven, editor Australia Today.
>
>Please, everyone, visit Hans' website and write letters of support to him.
> Let him know how much we appreciate his standing up and making a commitment
>to a safe Internet.
>********************
>INTERNET PATROLS LAST MONTH
>
>We have been DELUGED with information and education about what is happening
>all over the Net in the past month. Special mention must go to one of our
>CyberAngels, whose userid is Techphob. Tech has been patrolling all KINDS of
>dark alleys and dangerous cyberhoods, and the information he is accumulating
>earns him a special mention as our CYBERANGEL OF THE MONTH. Not only has he
>been assembling huge lists of the red light area of the InterNet, and
>painstakingly researching them, which is not a pleasant task. TECHPHOB, when
>you die you will go to CYBERHEAVEN. :) Keep up the excellent work. And if
>one person can do so much, think what we can ALL do if we work together.
>
>We have reported a number of Child Pornographers (50) to Sysadmins this
>month. This was done only after we received from them graphic images
>(unsolicited) of child pornography. We forwarded the email, including the
>attached files, to respective ISPs with the question "Is this a violation of
>your TOS? And if it is, what disciplinary steps will you take?" Letters we
>have received back all share our concern and promise stern action.
>
>Child pornographers are claiming "freedom of speech / expression" to justify
>their evil trade. Well we are claiming "freedom of speech / expression" to
>try and stop it! Thank you to all our volunteers who did NOT look the other
>way but stood up and said NO. Remember, each electronic image represents a
>real life destroyed.
>
>Many people are unsure when they find things whether to contact ISPs
>(InterNet Service Providers) themselves, by writing to relevant System
>Administrators, or to forward the information to us at CyberAngels Central -
>well do both! We can not possibly investigate everything that you all find,
>so take the step and speak up if you feel there is a TOS (Terms of Service)
>violation. Write to the ISP and explain the situation and ask the question
>"Is this a violation of your TOS?". Remember, we will not report anything
>we do not investigate ourselves. We do not operate on hearsay. So if you
>find something, give us full information as to how we may find it.
>
>An educational story to finish this section. One of our CyberAngels drew our
>attention last month to a very nasty posting in alt.teens on the Usenet. We
>checked itout and then wrote to the Sysadmin. It was a posting from a 16
>year old girl and was extremely nasty (obscene). Not only that but the
>userid indicated that the server was at a girls school in England. I wrote
>to the Sysadmin and asked the question "Are you aware that one of your girls
>is posting this kind of material to this newsgroup?" He investigated the
>matter, and it turned out apparently that the postings came not from a 16
>year old girl at all, but from an older, MALE, member of the teaching staff.
>********************
>FLAMES
>
>With global exposure, and an increasing number of online and offline
>magazines featuring CyberAngels, comes flames. And we would like to take
>this opportunity to thank everyone who flamed us in the past month. Some of
>your flames were extremely educational and helped us ENORMOUSLY. We try to
>reply to all our flames (no matter how rude they are), because we find it a
>very educational activity.
>
>A copy of our FAQ was sent to CUDigest (an online magazine), and it started
>some serious debates via email. We have so far received an equal number of
>flames and volunteers. :)
>
>Special mention must go to an ongoing debate about anonymous remailers, which
>was an area where we were less informed. Thanks to an154280@anon.penet.fi
> for lots of very helpful suggestions. For those of you interested in the
>debate about anonymity we have two suggestions: firstly we have a HUGE FAQ
>on "Identity, Privacy and Anonymity on the InterNet", written by L.Detweiler,
>and if any of you want it, please write to us and ask for it (WARNING it is
>138k!) Secondly you can write to help@anon.penet.fi for their FAQ on their
>anonymous service, which is also very educational.
>********************
>AN INTERACTIVE SECTION
>
>We need to learn more about "kill files". Who knows about them and who is
>willing to share? We will print whatever info we get in the next newsletter.
>
>Secondly, if any of you have ANYTHING relevant you would like to see printed
>in our next newsletter, then please submit it to us. Let us know if you want
>your name on it or not. Let's start sharing information and stories among
>our members. Do you really want to listen to Gabriel month after month? ;)
>
>Send us press articles etc, especially translations from countries where
>english is not spoken, about the InterNet and what is happening. Let's hear
>some good news about all the excellent organizations working for a safer
>InterNet!
>
>Another question - what is X-Band? We think it is a game playing BBS, but we
>are not sure. Anyway, no one on X-Band can receive email longer than 5
>lines. So does anyone out there know what it is? We have received several
>letters from X-Band inhabitants, and we are very interested in
>it...Someone...educate us!
>********************
>USEFUL INTERNET ORGANIZATIONS
>
>For those of you who want to learn more about the issues and arguments of
>cyberspace and censorship/regulation, we would refer you to the following
>groups (in addition to ourselves and Safesurf ) :
>
>1) Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), describes itself as "a non-profit
>civil liberties organization working in the public interest to protect
>privacy, free expression and access to online resources and information"
> They are at http://www.eff.org
>
>2) InterNet Society, at http://www.isoc.org
>
>For those of you interested in US legislation, you can obtain a list from the
>ACLU of recent government legislation relating to the Net (Thanks CyberAngel
>Anndell!).
>For a synopsis of all the online censorship bills passed or considered by
>American states this year, send a message to infoaclu@aclu.org with "Update
>of State Bills" in the subject line of the message.
>
>For those of you outside the USA, please send us similar information from
>your countries!
>********************
>CYBERANGELS MOVING EMAIL ADDRESS SOON!
>
>We are busy right now setting up an account with Wavenet.com in Los Angeles,
>so will soon have a different email address (although we will maintain
>ganetwatch@aol.com). From the 20th November you can email us at
>
>angels@wavenet.com
>
>and this is the email address we would prefer you to use. Thanks!
>********************
>Below is an article many of you will not have read.
>
>CYBERANGELS
>In "Wanted" Magazine
>
>"I'm looking for pictures of girls 11 to 14. Let's trade." Starts the man
>the other men know only as Flesh.
>"Hey everyone trade with me". Matt follows up. "I always return hard to
>find, controversial pictures!"
>A guy known as Pedoman spoke next. "Let's trade pictures I have ton's of
>hard ones".
>"If you got girls 11 - 14 I'm for trading".
>"I want 1 - 5".
>"Yum yum give me some".
>"Any good girl-girl action (under 16)? Adds a new party.
>"If people send me pics I'll return a movie".
>"I have some Preteen pics to trade" This from Pedoman.
>"Tell me how young, and send me one first. I'll get you what you want".
>
>This is a real conversation that occurred on August 5th 1995 over computer
>phone lines in a live talk area of America On Line, (one of the most popular
>computer servers in the Nation). The Guardian Angels recorded it as part of
>a new program to expose computer criminals, help the police keep an eye on
>cyber sickies and close down their deviant electronic town meeting/support
>group/strategy session.
>
>The Program is called Cyber Angels and like the Guardian Angel street patrols
>it's on the cutting edge. Cyber Angels has a huge potential because it draws
>on an untapped source for it's members; ordinary Internet surfers. It trains
>them to be observant while they "surf", looking for criminal or abusive uses
>of the computer network. Hate crimes, pedophile networks, sexual harassment
>(stalking) and credit card fraud are just some of the crimes flourishing on
>the under secured Internet and fair game for the Cyber Angels.
>
>More than just an enforcement group the Cyber Angels will train Users to help
>look out for their own community; the computer community. Why shouldn't the
>same laws of human decency and respect for others apply to the Internet as
>well as any street in the U.S.?
>
>Strangely thousands of educated, non pedophiles are opposed to us trying to
>do this.
>
>4 million people already belong to America on Line's (A.O.L.) computer clan.
> Hundreds more join every day as people succumb to the super glut of
>propaganda about the Information Superhighway and rush to find out what they
>are missing. A huge family all right however so far it seems nobody wants to
>do anything about dirty Uncle Fester who's up in the attic panting and
>drooling over an X-rated picture of the "Little Rascals".
>
>In fact, based on the recorded conversation above, not only does the family
>turn a blind eye to Uncle Fester they also let him use the den for a weekly
>game of poker with like minded friends using a deck of cards with a "kids and
>their loving pets" theme.
>
>Even worse, Mom and Dad sometimes let Uncle F. baby-sit the kids.
>
>Authorities have made sporadic attempts to lock up these computer pedophiles
>but the successes of these campaigns have just gone to show how blatant and
>widespread the problem is. Like an exterminator who crushes a hundred
>cockroaches just by walking across the kitchen floor.
>
>Last year U.S. federal authorities served warrants on 35 men who had
>contacted a Danish computer service that provided pictures that were illegal
>in the U.S., of young kids having sex. Out of the 35 men who were
>questioned and had their houses searched, 10 readily admitted to having
>molested children.
>
>Yet despite these successes the family continues to shelter Uncle Fester.
>When we tried to follow-up after we gave America On Line (A.O.L.) the
>recording of the conversation above, they informed us that not only were the
>identities of the conversants confidential, so was any details about any
>disciplinary action A.O.L. had or hadn't taken against them. A.O.L. admits
>that there are many more cases of children being targeted for crimes and
>abuse through the computer that are unrecorded, still it refuses to
>reconsider it's promotional policy of providing any new user with 10 free
>hours. This promotional tactic allows anyone to sign on with a fake credit
>card and have ten hours using or abusing the Internet with complete
>anonymity. Because A.O.L. sends out discs through the mail and distributes
>them through selected magazines there is no limit to the number of free 10
>hour trials computer abusers can get.
>
>But the Administrators of A.O.L. aren't the only obstacle. It seems the
>Internet has it's own freedom fighters. A fearless band of well meaning
>defenders who take a good idea to it's absurd extreme. Like environmental
>granola terrorists who will injure loggers or bomb hunting retreats to save
>the spotted owl, these Champions of Cyber feel that freedom of speech as
>proposed by the founding fathers was intended to allow child rapists to hold
>public gab sessions, discuss their disgusting deeds and depraved desires and
>just generally work themselves up into a pedophilic lather. Personally, I
>prefer a little preventative medicine, a little stitch in time that saves
>sending out the blood hounds to try and locate a snatched 5 year old before
>she ends up in a garbage bag in a dumpster.
>
>A private investigator who was upset by the use of the world wide computer
>network of computer pedophile predators assumed the identity of a teenage
>girl to show how simple it was to draw out the computer predators. A Nevada
>man quickly fell into the trap not only sending explicit sexual messages to
>what he thought was a 14 year old girl but traveling to a Milwaukee motel
>room for an arranged sexual liaison where he was met and charged by federal
>authorities.
>
>At our own Web Site the Cyber Angels will act as public advocates, posting
>information about Users who commit cyber crimes or try to arrange physical
>rendezvous with children. Just like Megan's law in New Jersey and similar
>laws in other states allow us to warn parents who and what to watch for if
>they want to keep their kids safe.
>
>Users who have witnessed or discovered some abuse of the 'Net can also visit
>our Web Site to find out what they should do with their concern. Should they
>pass their information on to the Federal authorities? Post it on our
>bulletin board? And how about some instruction in how not to react? On the
>street you can get shot for trying to get in the last insult of an argument,
>on the 'Net you don't run the risk of death but you are only motivating some
>hate nutcase if you do anything more than lodge your disgust and then ignore
>them. Then there will be the Chicken Little cases that we need to reach;
>maybe someone enters a chat room where a discussion is being held between
>some gay men and nobody has ever told this guy that there is a difference
>between homosexual and child molester . Well then our Web Site can let him
>know that the sky is not falling.
>
>We want to pressure computer system operators to better police their own
>service users. A.O.L. needs to learn that it is partially responsible for
>what goes on in it's "house". Hey, call me cynical but it's hard to have
>trust in A.O.L.'s integrity and humanity when they assign their well paid
>corporate lawyers to answer our concerns about the 'Net.
>
>Less lawyers and more law. So the Cyber Angel program will filter all the
>information that it receives from patrolling members and concerned Users and
>pass the useful information on to the authorities to act on. Then we
>publicize the arrests because just building the reputation of the 'Net as a
>protected environment where the law applies just like everywhere else will go
>a long way in discouraging some guy with a new swastika tattoo from
>terrorizing some other User.
>
>Right now the Internet has a reputation. A noticeable absence of Police and
>thousands of young potential victims or recruits left to wander by themselves
>by their parents. Users and Abusers can operate with complete anonymity, is
>it any wonder that pedophiles, racists and other criminals have approached
> the computer era with clammy hand rubbing glee?
>
>These Abusers with their Hitler salutes and baby oil got the computer jump on
>everybody but Bill Gates and now they are entrenched. Cyber space is
>infested with "Aliens" who are lurking in not so dark corners, waiting for a
>victim to happen by and training the fledgling "Aliens" how to hunt. The
>Cyber Angels are just recruiting the Sigourney Weavers.
>
>We have already attracted over two hundred recruits to our Cyber Angel
>program. Like the original Guardian Angel program it has the power of
>algebra on it's side. Basically there are more law abiding Users on the
>Internet then law breaking Abusers, it's just a matter of the good guys
>working as hard as the bad and the ugly.
>
>So should we bother? Should we act on our disgust at the black polyester
>sock, pant and drool crowd that are soiling their fruit of the looms over
>traded photos of 8 year old children? Or is this the kind of free speech the
>founding fathers meant to protect with the first amendment? Should I be
>angry and try to stop the distribution of a video game where the object is to
>cram the most Jewish prisoners into my crematorium and win the "game"?
> Should anyone even be offended that the same "champions of the people", who
>brought you the Time magazine article on Cyberporn have now written their own
>get rich quick computer manual called "The Pornographers Handbook: How To
>Exploit Women, Dupe Men & Make Lots of Money."?
>
>Only if our principles have gotten lazy. Just by definition we should be
>interested in anything that interests Pedophiles as much as the Internet.
> Where ever the sexually criminal play there should be watchdogs following
>them. people should be vigilant so they can not befriend and then attack
>their little victim. Hate mongers must have their twisted lies refuted and
>exposed to ensure that potential recruits get both sides of the story before
>they get sucked down that whirlpool of biased sewage.
>
>Maybe just as important, Users that "play" at crime on the Internet need a
>wake-up call. The future of the 'Net is in their hands also. They may be
>young and adventurous now but are they going to want their future children to
>encounter the kinds of "harmless" harassment, "fun and games" fraud and "it
>was just a joke until someone loses an eye" mail box bombing or computer
>virus campaigns?
>
>The Guardian Angels have adopted an old saying "All that is required for the
>triumph of evil, is that good men and women remain silent and do nothing".
> That's as true today on the internet as it ever was anywhere else.
>
>Sebastian Metz
>********************
>HELP US! WE NEED YOUR DONATIONS TO EXPAND OUR PROJECT!
>
>Listen...thanks to YOU this InterNet monitoring project has really taken off,
>and we are getting more volunteers every day. That means more and more
>people around the world are taking the PROACTIVE step of patrolling your part
>of cyberspace and assuming a greater responsibility for the quality of your
>cyberhood. That means WE ARE ALL MAKING A DIFFERENCE! We are helping many
>people, especially kids, enjoy the wonderful creation that is the InterNet,
>in greater safety and security.
>
>NOW...we need to expand our resources. There are now two of us working as
>fulltime volunteers to coordinate the project, and WE NEED YOUR HELP.
>
>Firstly we need two big fast applemacs with 28.8 modems. If we can't find a
>donor, we will need to buy them. If you can help us with these resources in
>any way, please email us.
>
>Secondly, we are a volunteer organization and we need money to help us to
>cover our increasing online bills, not to mention to develop our WWW home
>pages. The great strength of our work together is that it is a team effort.
>E.g. if everyone on our mailing list sent us *$10.00*, this would enable us
>to expand the project to a higher level for 1996. Please send any donations
>as checks or money orders (payable to "CyberAngels") to: CyberAngels, PO Box
>1102, Hollywood, CA 90078, USA. Thank you in advance for that particular
>help. We really need it!
>
>We have designed a special CyberAngels T-shirt, and are offering it to our
>supporters for the sum of $25.00. This is of course a donation to the work,
>but in this case you will receive an excellent T-shirt that you could not buy
>anywhere! Details of this will soon be up on our Web page. If you are
>interested, send that $25.00 to the above snail address. :)
>
>By the way, anyone sending in a donation of $50.00 or more will be listed on
>our home pages in our CyberAngels Supporters Hall of Fame. Dig deep!
>
>BTW, anyone with a WWW site - you can help us enormously by putting a link
>from your page to ours...This way we spread the word faster!
>********************
>AND FINALLY
>
>>From Harlequin and myself (Gabriel), that's all until our next newsletter.
> We have a wonderful project going on here, that is really helping to change
>the InterNet. Don't ever think that the Net is too big to change. All it
>takes is individuals coming together with determination. We thank you all.
> And keep those patrols going on! And spread the word! Get your friends
>involved too, and build this work! Remember:
>
>CYBERSPACE NEEDS CYBERANGELS!
>
>Gabriel & Harlequin
>
David Smith * "We truly believe that even though we live in an
evil
bladex@bga.com * world, if you can stand up with a stronger
will, then you
President, EFF-Austin * can't be beaten down. This is the true spirit
of the
Board of Directors, CTCLU * EFF-Austin member" -- John Woo
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 13 Nov 1995 23:59:03 +0100
From: Patrick C. Ernzer <ernzer@paranoid.pfalz.de>
Subject: File 3--Re: CuD, #7.89 - Govt & Net Censorship
just some thoughts that crossed my mind, and wich I thought I would
share with you.
there was a time when the US where great and wonderful to me (this was
when I was young and easily impressed by things as Silicon Valley and
the NASA). Then came the time to keep up with news and such, and
gradually the US became in my view a place where the best, the worst
and especially the most silly things were possible (e.g. the sexual
harassment laws of the US, wich are laughably extreme in the views of
most Europeans). But now it has finally happened, a very powerful
group (The Religious Right) has clearly gone too far.
I don't mean to insult the US in general, but if the bill, the
Religious Right wants to pass, does pass, then the US risk to be left
out from the international community. IMHO (untill Europe imitates the
US, as always 10 years or so later) the US will simply left out from
the internet. Rather than risking having bigots laws on one's back and
being sued all the way to the end of the known galaxy, people will
IMHO just avoid the US.
Are those who want to pass the bill aware of this? I doubt it. I would
really miss all the people I am in contact with in the US, but then
again I don't want to get in trouble just because if my language or my
general moral views. (No, I'm not a child abuser, but the sense of
humor I inherited by living in France for many years will probably be
enough to get me into trouble. Just imagine telling a sick baby joke
with a sexual conotation to sb residing in the US will get me and my
ISP or university in deep trouble instead of just generating a "bah,
that was not really funny, you know.")
What will happen to the US if all major firms relocate to other
coutries because of the legislation being just laughably strict? I
don't want to paint gloomy end-of-world-scenes regarding the US, but
IMHO there is a danger of this.
------------------------------
From: JeanBernard_Condat@EMAIL.FRANCENET.FR(JeanBernard Condat)
Subject: File 4--French agreement to use Netscape Navigator
Date: 21 Nov 1995 08:49:06 GMT
Bonjour,
All over the French newgroups, you can read the uncredibled news this
morning: the secret SCSSI (Service Central de la Securite des Systemes
d'Information) from the Premier Ministre' desk in Paris have given the
complete
agreement to use Netscape Navigator. The document is like that:
Titre: "Autorisation de fourniture et d'utilisation generale de moyens
de cryptologie No. 2500"
Signe: 7 Novembre 1995
Par: Jacques VINCENT-CARREFOUR pour la DISSI
Reference: 509/DISSI dossier numero 950038
L'autorisation est fournie aux seuls produits Netscape Navigator suivants:
N. DOS WINDOWS CD ROM
N. DOS WINDOWS KX 23
N. MACINTOSH CD ROM
N. MACINTOSH RX23
N. NT/INTEL CD ROM
N. NT/INTEL RX23
N. NT/ALPHA
N. X-WINDOWS
N. WIN/95 16 BIT CD ROM
N. WIN/95 16 BIT RX 23
N. WIN/95 32 BIT CD ROM
N. WIN/95 32 BIT RX 23
Elle est egalement fournie aux distributeurs de la liste suivante et a
eux seuls:
Sun Microsystems Computers
Digital Equipment
Silicon Graphics
Novell
Siemens Nixdorf
Olivetti
Bull
Zenith Data Systems
Apple Computers
Hewlett Packard
Compaq
Azlan
Softway
France Telecom
Grolier Interactive Europe
General Games
Some remarks can be do: it's no "s" to X-Window in the list of authorized
products. This
agreement "is good until 1st October 1997 for selling and use in France
only." This autho-
rization will be late to be given because of some discussions with other
hurge software
publishers that don't have receive the same paper.
It's the first time in France that an US specific software will be accepted
in the cryptographic
field by our Government. Bravo -:>]
-- Jean-bernard Condat
Computer Security Expert (Paris, France)
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 22 Nov 1995 18:01:45 -0500
From: ACLUNATL@AOL.COM
Subject: File 5--ACLU Cyber-Liberties Update -- 11/22/95
----------------------------------------------------------------
November 22, 1995
ACLU CYBER-LIBERTIES UPDATE
A bi-weekly e-zine on cyber-liberties cases and controversies
at the state and federal level.
----------------------------------------------------------------
IN THIS ISSUE:
* New York Civil Liberties Union Opposes Discipline of Cornell Students
for Offensive Online Speech
* Seattle Negotiates New Franchise Agreement with Cable Network to Offer
Internet Access; ACLU of Washington Gives Testimony on Privacy Implications
* Watch Out for Cyber-Liberties Infringements in Counter-Terrorism
Legislation; House May Consider Bill in Early December
* Update and ACTION ALERT on Federal Online Indecency Legislation
* Online Discussion Groups on Electronic Access Issues
----------------------------------------------------------------
STATE PAGE (Legislation/Agency/Court Cases)
----------------------------------------------------------------
* New York Civil Liberties Union Opposes Discipline of Cornell Students for
Offensive Online Speech
The latest controversy over appropriate use of the Internet at universities
erupted last week after four Cornell students made a list of "75 reasons why
women should not have freedom of speech" and the list got loose on the
Internet. Responding to e-mail and phone complaints about the message,
Cornell considered disciplinary action against the students.
The NYCLU wrote a letter to Cornell on Thursday, November 16th, urging
Cornell not to proceed with disciplinary action. The letter said, "Freedom
of expression, especially in the academic forum, is designed to encourage
truth-seeking by protecting the challenge and response of intellectual
discourse. . . . It is understandable that university officials should be
concerned about the increase in the use of sexist language. . . . However,
no matter how troubling or offensive the message is, the administration of
Cornell University should not depart from principles of freedom of expression
when addressing the issues surrounding this dispute." The letter went on to
note that "the marketplace theory of free expression appears to be in full
swing as the wrong-minded e-mail message has apparently already provoked
thousands of angry messages' both to Cornell and to the particular four
students."
On Thursday afternoon, Cornell announced that it would not pursue any
disciplinary action against the students.
For a copy of the letter that NYCLU sent to Cornell, send a message to
infoaclu@aclu.org with "NYCLU Letter to Cornell" in the subject line. For
more information, contact Beth Haroules, Staff Attorney, NYCLU, at
212-382-0557.
----------------------------------------------------------------
* Seattle Negotiates New Franchise Agreement with Cable Network to Offer
Internet Access; ACLU of Washington Testifies at Hearing on Privacy
Implications
Cities across the country are beginning to renegotiate franchise agreements
with cable networks who want to get into the Internet access business. Civil
libertarians must work to ensure that strong privacy protections are included
in these agreements.
The City of Seattle is currently negotiating a new franchise agreement with
TCI of Seattle, Inc., and the ACLU of Washington urged the city to include
provisions to protect consumer privacy. In a letter dated November 9th,
ACLU-W said that "franchisees should be prohibited from collecting any data
on individual use of the cable network, including Internet access, except
that data minimally needed for billing purposes. . . . [T]he franchisee
should be precluded from collecting information about which other Internet
sites are accessed through the cable network, which newsgroups are read,
which real-time interactive forums are participated in, or any other
information that could be used to compile a data profile of the subscriber."
The letter also urged the city to require technological protections, like
encryption, to guard against unauthorized tapping.
For a copy of the letter, send a message to infoaclu@aclu.org with "cable
franchise agreement" in the subject line. For more information, contact Doug
Klunder, ACLU-W Information Technology Committee, dougk@eskimo.com.
----------------------------------------------------------------
FEDERAL PAGE (Congress/Agency/Court Cases)
----------------------------------------------------------------
* Watch Out for Cyber-Liberties Infringements in Counter-Terrorism
Legislation; House May Consider Bill in Early December
The House of Representatives is scheduled to debate a broad counter-terrorism
bill in early December. (The Senate passed a similar bill in June 1995.)
While the counter-terrorism bill contains many unconstitutional provisions,
the net community should be particularly alert to the following:
1. The pending House counter-terrorism bill contains a funding mechanism for
vastly expanded wiretap capabilities for federal law enforcement (authorized
by the Digital Telephony law passed by Congress last year). The FBI's scheme
would give government an unprecedented ability to intrude on privacy through
increased wiretaps. The net community should oppose this and any other
funding scheme for the FBI's wiretap proposal. (See our 11/8 issue of the
Cyber-Liberties Update for an ACLU statement and action alert on the federal
wiretap proposal.)
2. The version of counter-terrorism legislation already passed by the Senate
contains a revised Feinstein Amendment, which makes it a felony "to
distribute by any means information pertaining to, in whole or in part, the
manufacture of explosive materials, if the person intends, or knows that such
explosive materials or information will likely be used for" criminal
purposes. While the legislation applies to all media, it grew out of Senator
Feinstein's vilification of the Internet at the Senate's May 11th
counter-terrorism hearings. The House version of counter-terrorism
legislation does not currently contain language like the Feinstein Amendment,
but the online community should stand ready to oppose any effort to include
such unconstitutional provisions in the final House bill.
For a copy of the ACLU's letter to the Senate in opposition to the original
Feinstein Amendment, send a message to infoaclu@aclu.org with "Feinstein
Amendment" in the subject line.
For further information on the ACLU's opposition to counter-terrorism
legislation (which would also expand the FBI's powers in electronic
surveillance and other areas), visit the ACLU's Constitution Hall on America
Online, at keyword ACLU.
----------------------------------------------------------------
* Update and ACTION ALERT on Federal Online Indecency Legislation
The Conference Committee on the telecommunications bill is currently
considering whether to remove provisions that would make "indecency" and
other speech a crime in cyberspace. The Christian Coalition and other
anti-free-speech groups continue to heavily lobby the Conferees to make the
new speech crimes even stricter than the Exon Amendment. To counter this
backlash, the online community must overwhelm the Conference Committee with a
loud and clear message -- that parental empowerment tools and not big
government censorship are the only effective means to address children's
access to online content.
While the Conference Committee is home for Thanksgiving, we urge you to call
the Conferees in your state. To find a list of the home office phone numbers
for the Conferees, see the current ACTION ALERT at http://www.vtw.org/
The ACLU continues to prepare for a constitutional challenge to the online
censorship provisions if they become law. Please contact Ann Beeson,
beeson@aclu.org, if your organization is interested in being a plaintiff in
this ground-breaking litigation that will define First Amendment rights in
cyberspace.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Online Discussion Groups on Electronic Access Issues
----------------------------------------------------------------
The following discussion groups are actively debating government information
and access issues:
GOVPUB -- issues related to publishing local and state government information
online
Subscribe: listserv@vm1.nodak.edu
Message: subscribe govpub
GOVACCESS -- citizen access to government information
Subscribe: majordomo@well.dom
Message: subscribe govaccess
PUBPOL-D -- substantive discussion of public policy issues
Subscribe: listserv@vm1.spcs.umn.edu
Message: subscribe pubpol-d [your name]
COMMUNET -- issues related to community and civic networks
Subscribe: listserv@uvmvm.uvm.edu
Message: subscribe communet [your name]
----------------------------------------------------------------
ONLINE RESOURCES FROM THE ACLU NATIONAL OFFICE
----------------------------------------------------------------
Stay tuned for news on the ACLU's world wide web site, under construction at
http://www.aclu.org. America Online users should check out our live chats,
auditorium events, *very* active message boards, and complete news on civil
liberties, at keyword ACLU.
----------------------------------------------------------------
ACLU Cyber-Liberties Update
Editor: Ann Beeson (beeson@aclu.org)
American Civil Liberties Union National Office
132 West 43rd Street
New York, New York 10036
To subscribe to the ACLU Cyber-Liberties Update, send a message to
infoaclu@aclu.org with "subscribe Cyber-Liberties Update" in the subject line
of your message. To terminate your subscription, send a message to
infoaclu@aclu.org with "unsubscribe Cyber-Liberties Update" in the subject
line.
For general information about the ACLU, write to infoaclu@aclu.org.
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 5 Nov 1995 22:51:01 CDT
From: CuD Moderators <cudigest@sun.soci.niu.edu>
Subject: File 6--Cu Digest Header Info (unchanged since 5 Nov, 1995)
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------------------------------
End of Computer Underground Digest #7.91
************************************