4 ms·

This smells like clickbait. No charges have been filed, just a statement from a governor who has a history of bloviating about the press. “Likely to be charge

This smells like clickbait. No charges have been filed, just a statement from a governor who has a history of bloviating about the press. “Likely to be charged” is a huge stretch.

sigmaprimus 5y ago
Having watched a few of the sessions held by congress questioning social media CEOs and the like, I think this story is quite plausible. In between the grandstanding some of the politicians asked such odd questions, I think an introduction to digital safety should be a requisite course for all public servants along side antidiscrimination and inclusivity. I wouldn't be surprised if there is someone already in jail who has been charged and convicted to a similar action. Here is a Canadian example of a similar event. https://edmontonjournal.com/news/politics/covid-19-records-webpage-ndp-mla-thomas-dang-steps-down-after-rcmp-search-warrant-executed-on-his-home https://edmontonjournal.com/news/politics/covid-19-records-w...
- TameAntelope 5y ago
  “Plausible” is exactly where misinformation and fake news thrives. It’s news if he’s actually charged, it’s much less news if a frustrated governor blows off steam about it. This is, so far, nothing more than the latter.
  - watwut 5y ago
    Frustrated governor blows off steam is news, because that is literally governor harrassing journalists and abusing position.
    - TameAntelope 5y ago
      Yeah (less news isn’t not news), just not the news being reported in the title. And this isn’t harassment yet. This is just a statement, nothing has actually happened. If you want to see where this could go, check out the story of the data scientist who whistleblew on the Florida government hiding COVID deaths [0]. But none of that’s happened here, yet. [0] https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/healthcare-information-technology/fired-florida-covid-19-data-scientist-receives-whistleblower-status.html https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/healthcare-information...
  - deleted 5y ago
    [deleted]
themitigating 5y ago
The title doesn't say they were charged it says "likely".
- FDSGSG 5y ago
  The article does nothing to substantiate that claim. We already know that the feds essentially told the state to fuck off. At this point it really is unlikely that the reporter will be charged.
  - badRNG 5y ago
    They aren't dependent on the feds to bring charges. The feds' involvement would be for prosecuting the reporter for CFAA violations. Missouri has its own computer intrusion legislation that would be the basis for charges from the state.
badRNG 5y ago
I don't think it is that big a stretch. There's more details in the Verge article[1]: > They turned the case over to Cole County Prosecuting Attorney Locke Thompson on Monday, December 27. Governor Parson then held a press conference on Wednesday, December 29, where he cited a state statute related to computer tampering and repeatedly suggested Thompson should use it to prosecute Renaud and the paper. As of the time of writing this comment, that was four days ago, and during the holidays. It certainly seems like charges will be brought unless Thompson chooses to side against the Governor and decline to pursue charges (I'm not sure what the political implications of that would be in either direction.) State statute is here [2]. IANAL, but this statute seems very broad. Especially sections 3, 4, and 5: >A person commits the offense of tampering with computer data if he or she knowingly and without authorization or without reasonable grounds to believe that he has such authorization: [...] (3) Discloses or takes data, programs, or supporting documentation, residing or existing internal or external to a computer, computer system, or computer network; or (4) Discloses or takes a password, identifying code, personal identification number, or other confidential information about a computer system or network that is intended to or does control access to the computer system or network; (5) Accesses a computer, a computer system, or a computer network, and intentionally examines information about another person; Like, yeah, factually the reporter did examine information about another person without authorization. This law sucks, but it is not a stretch to think they will prosecute the reporter. [1] https://www.theverge.com/2021/12/31/22861188/missouri-governor-mike-parson-hack-website-source-code https://www.theverge.com/2021/12/31/22861188/missouri-govern... [2] https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=569.095 https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=569.095
- dekhn 5y ago
  The STL Dispatch covered every single angle of responsibility before and during taking this action. Even if they violated the letter of some law, the only outcome of a court case will be to embarass the state by exposing how incompetent they were, and how responsible the reporter and the paper were in disclosure. My guess is the prosecutor will decline to pursue.
  - badRNG 5y ago
deleted 5y ago
[deleted]

This smells like clickbait. No charges have been filed, just a statement from a governor who has a history of bloviating about the press. “Likely to be charged” is a huge stretch.

sigmaprimus 5y ago

Having watched a few of the sessions held by congress questioning social media CEOs and the like, I think this story is quite plausible. In between the grandstanding some of the politicians asked such odd questions, I think an introduction to digital safety should be a requisite course for all public servants along side antidiscrimination and inclusivity. I wouldn't be surprised if there is someone already in jail who has been charged and convicted to a similar action. Here is a Canadian example of a similar event. https://edmontonjournal.com/news/politics/covid-19-records-webpage-ndp-mla-thomas-dang-steps-down-after-rcmp-search-warrant-executed-on-his-home https://edmontonjournal.com/news/politics/covid-19-records-w...

TameAntelope 5y ago
“Plausible” is exactly where misinformation and fake news thrives. It’s news if he’s actually charged, it’s much less news if a frustrated governor blows off steam about it. This is, so far, nothing more than the latter.
- watwut 5y ago
  Frustrated governor blows off steam is news, because that is literally governor harrassing journalists and abusing position.
  - TameAntelope 5y ago
    Yeah (less news isn’t not news), just not the news being reported in the title. And this isn’t harassment yet. This is just a statement, nothing has actually happened. If you want to see where this could go, check out the story of the data scientist who whistleblew on the Florida government hiding COVID deaths [0]. But none of that’s happened here, yet. [0] https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/healthcare-information-technology/fired-florida-covid-19-data-scientist-receives-whistleblower-status.html https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/healthcare-information...
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]

themitigating 5y ago

The title doesn't say they were charged it says "likely".

FDSGSG 5y ago
The article does nothing to substantiate that claim. We already know that the feds essentially told the state to fuck off. At this point it really is unlikely that the reporter will be charged.
- badRNG 5y ago
  They aren't dependent on the feds to bring charges. The feds' involvement would be for prosecuting the reporter for CFAA violations. Missouri has its own computer intrusion legislation that would be the basis for charges from the state.

badRNG 5y ago

I don't think it is that big a stretch. There's more details in the Verge article[1]: > They turned the case over to Cole County Prosecuting Attorney Locke Thompson on Monday, December 27. Governor Parson then held a press conference on Wednesday, December 29, where he cited a state statute related to computer tampering and repeatedly suggested Thompson should use it to prosecute Renaud and the paper. As of the time of writing this comment, that was four days ago, and during the holidays. It certainly seems like charges will be brought unless Thompson chooses to side against the Governor and decline to pursue charges (I'm not sure what the political implications of that would be in either direction.) State statute is here [2]. IANAL, but this statute seems very broad. Especially sections 3, 4, and 5: >A person commits the offense of tampering with computer data if he or she knowingly and without authorization or without reasonable grounds to believe that he has such authorization: [...] (3) Discloses or takes data, programs, or supporting documentation, residing or existing internal or external to a computer, computer system, or computer network; or (4) Discloses or takes a password, identifying code, personal identification number, or other confidential information about a computer system or network that is intended to or does control access to the computer system or network; (5) Accesses a computer, a computer system, or a computer network, and intentionally examines information about another person; Like, yeah, factually the reporter did examine information about another person without authorization. This law sucks, but it is not a stretch to think they will prosecute the reporter. [1] https://www.theverge.com/2021/12/31/22861188/missouri-governor-mike-parson-hack-website-source-code https://www.theverge.com/2021/12/31/22861188/missouri-govern... [2] https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=569.095 https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=569.095

dekhn 5y ago
The STL Dispatch covered every single angle of responsibility before and during taking this action. Even if they violated the letter of some law, the only outcome of a court case will be to embarass the state by exposing how incompetent they were, and how responsible the reporter and the paper were in disclosure. My guess is the prosecutor will decline to pursue.
- badRNG 5y ago

deleted 5y ago

[deleted]