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The intent of the law is to prevent individuals from harming each other. Exactly who was harmed, or risked being harmed, by this person talking to North Koreans

The intent of the law is to prevent individuals from harming each other. Exactly who was harmed, or risked being harmed, by this person talking to North Koreans about crypto currencies? This is a case about the state abusing the law to suppress free speech.

SlowRobotAhead 7y ago
He asked state dept if it was ok, they told him no it would be a crime, he did it anyway... how is anyone surprised at the result here?
- syshum 7y ago
  I did not realize that the State Dept was the ruler of US Citizens and that we are their subjects Pretty sure my copy of the constitution says "We the people" form the government not "The State Dept" forms the government
  - mthoms 7y ago
    The State Department didn't create the law that made this a crime, they merely informed him of such. That's literally their job.
- deleted 7y ago
  [deleted]
drak0n1c 7y ago
Helping the elite caste of an incredibly authoritarian country preserve its financial power can very well end up harming millions of people over the long run.
- bjourne 7y ago
  So let's prosecute the US president for his support of Saudi Arabia's elite caste...
  - pjc50 7y ago
    Sure, why not. Add it to the list. There's a long list of his associates who've already been convicted of money laundering and related offences.
  - throwaway2048 7y ago
    Arguments that "somebody else is doing it too!" don't usually fly in court.
fouric 7y ago
> Exactly who was harmed, or risked being harmed Perhaps you should read https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_rights_in_North_Korea https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_rights_in_North_Korea
- sneak 7y ago
  Do you have any data to suggest that any of the people who commit human rights abuses there were in attendance or that he taught them things? There are human rights abusers in every country. We don’t arrest conference speakers for speaking simply because bad people may attend and listen. It is unscientific and inaccurate to paint all north koreans with such a brush. Having been there, I can attest myself that the majority of the people I met there were peaceful, impoverished, and scared. They need all the tools they can get.
  - throwaway2048 7y ago
    Here some data, Its right here on the conference's webpage "The interest of participants to continue building bridges of friendship and collaboration with the DPR of Korea, as well as the exclusive environment of confidentiality and contacts with the highest government officials and engineers" https://nkcryptocon.com/ https://nkcryptocon.com/ Does that suggest to you a conference where they teach the oppressed people of North Korea a mechanism to evade the government?

SlowRobotAhead 7y ago

He asked state dept if it was ok, they told him no it would be a crime, he did it anyway... how is anyone surprised at the result here?

syshum 7y ago
I did not realize that the State Dept was the ruler of US Citizens and that we are their subjects Pretty sure my copy of the constitution says "We the people" form the government not "The State Dept" forms the government
- mthoms 7y ago
  The State Department didn't create the law that made this a crime, they merely informed him of such. That's literally their job.
deleted 7y ago
[deleted]

drak0n1c 7y ago

Helping the elite caste of an incredibly authoritarian country preserve its financial power can very well end up harming millions of people over the long run.

bjourne 7y ago
So let's prosecute the US president for his support of Saudi Arabia's elite caste...
- pjc50 7y ago
  Sure, why not. Add it to the list. There's a long list of his associates who've already been convicted of money laundering and related offences.
- throwaway2048 7y ago
  Arguments that "somebody else is doing it too!" don't usually fly in court.

fouric 7y ago

> Exactly who was harmed, or risked being harmed Perhaps you should read https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_rights_in_North_Korea https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_rights_in_North_Korea

sneak 7y ago
Do you have any data to suggest that any of the people who commit human rights abuses there were in attendance or that he taught them things? There are human rights abusers in every country. We don’t arrest conference speakers for speaking simply because bad people may attend and listen. It is unscientific and inaccurate to paint all north koreans with such a brush. Having been there, I can attest myself that the majority of the people I met there were peaceful, impoverished, and scared. They need all the tools they can get.
- throwaway2048 7y ago
  Here some data, Its right here on the conference's webpage "The interest of participants to continue building bridges of friendship and collaboration with the DPR of Korea, as well as the exclusive environment of confidentiality and contacts with the highest government officials and engineers" https://nkcryptocon.com/ https://nkcryptocon.com/ Does that suggest to you a conference where they teach the oppressed people of North Korea a mechanism to evade the government?