The point of the article that is the source of the quote below is exactly right: there is no consistency, cohesiveness, or harmony with the cyber crime and data privacy laws. I believe there are several reasons but these are the two that are most prominent:
- The cyber crime and data privacy laws are a patchwork collection of laws that have been enacted based upon reactionary fears over a vast amount of time, each in response to a particular “concern of the day” without taking into account the other laws or the possible evolution of the issues and technology they seek to redress. Imagine trying to paint a painting after blindfolding yourself and then only using “dot by dot” with the tip of the brush to make the painting — no strokes (seriously, try it).
- We, as a society, do not yet know what we really value.
- On one hand, we want to protect our own information when it is in the custody of others yet, on the other hand, also disclose much of our own information through public channels yet keep others from using that information for purposes we do not like.
- On one hand, we want to protect other people’s information yet, on the other hand, we want to freely exercise our perceived rights to free access to information (even when it may legally belong to others).
- On one hand, we want to have a secure information system that allows for vibrant eCommerce that is protected by laws prohibiting people from “hacking” that information, yet on the other hand, we want to protect the rights of the good “hackers” who do security testing and are necessary to ensure that information system is secure.
- On one hand, we want to punish those who have our information, try to protect it, yet have others hack them and steal it while, on the other hand, support those who are hacking to steal such information, while, on yet another hand (or foot), freely give our information to others and then punish them for using it in ways we do not like.
- … and the list could go on … (for more, see Hunter Moore or Aaron Swartz: Do we hate the CFAA? Do we love the CFAA? Do we even have a clue?)
Anyway, here is the article that got me thinking about this at 4:00 in the morning:
Uncle Sam has gotten his wires crossed on internet data privacy. A hacker went to prison for exposing private customer information that AT&T failed to protect from online access. Now U.S. prosecutors are defending their right to do essentially the same thing in the Silk Road drug-website case. Anti-hacking laws are tough to take seriously when even enforcers can’t decide what’s allowed.