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Isn't a graphing calculator an unreasonable demand for someone who's been brought in on hacking charges? You and I know he couldn't do much with it, but it's a

Isn't a graphing calculator an unreasonable demand for someone who's been brought in on hacking charges? You and I know he couldn't do much with it, but it's a common term of parole for computer criminals to be denied computer use, even for their work. I'm not saying I agree with it, but it seems like a ridiculous point to milk, saying "they won't even let him have a graphing calculator!". They also won't let him have a 286, or a PDP-8, or a smartphone.

sebcat 13y ago
> it's a common term of parole for computer criminals to be denied computer use, even for their work. He's not sentenced. And he's in Sweden (not common to deny computer use in the same way as in the U.S.) I would be interested in finding out on what grounds they are denying him. It's not that I'm too lazy to find out myself, but I'm on a phone and it's a lot of data to look at. If the investigation was ongoing they could deny him based on risk of tampering with evidence ("kollusionsfara"), I guess. A bit farfetched, but possible. The investigation is finished, is he still being denied access to a calculator? EDIT: OK, after looking into this a bit I'm guessing BrB 24 kap 5a makes it legal.
lawnchair_larry 13y ago
Are you kidding me? A graphing calculator unreasonable? You can't seriously think that any hacking could be done from a graphing calculator inside a prison with no Internet connection. He's a hacker, not a goddamn Salem Witch.
- alanctgardner2 13y ago
  I missed this comment a few days ago, but I feel like it's worth replying to anyways: It's not about hacking, per se. It's about not using computing devices, and it's about convenience for the legal system. If they allow a graphing calculator, should they allow a PDP? Is internet access the limiting factor? Can he send code on a USB key to his teacher? For a non-technical person to decide where that line is would be very difficult (as a technical person, I couldn't tell you offhand where it stops). 'No computing devices' is easy, and not unreasonable. Of course, anyone on HN will complain that the legal system needs to be aware of technology. If we get into that argument, every public representative will need to be a painter, race car driver, astronaut and programmer. Because they don't really understand <x> well enough to legislate about it.

sebcat 13y ago

> it's a common term of parole for computer criminals to be denied computer use, even for their work. He's not sentenced. And he's in Sweden (not common to deny computer use in the same way as in the U.S.) I would be interested in finding out on what grounds they are denying him. It's not that I'm too lazy to find out myself, but I'm on a phone and it's a lot of data to look at. If the investigation was ongoing they could deny him based on risk of tampering with evidence ("kollusionsfara"), I guess. A bit farfetched, but possible. The investigation is finished, is he still being denied access to a calculator? EDIT: OK, after looking into this a bit I'm guessing BrB 24 kap 5a makes it legal.

lawnchair_larry 13y ago

Are you kidding me? A graphing calculator unreasonable? You can't seriously think that any hacking could be done from a graphing calculator inside a prison with no Internet connection. He's a hacker, not a goddamn Salem Witch.

alanctgardner2 13y ago
I missed this comment a few days ago, but I feel like it's worth replying to anyways: It's not about hacking, per se. It's about not using computing devices, and it's about convenience for the legal system. If they allow a graphing calculator, should they allow a PDP? Is internet access the limiting factor? Can he send code on a USB key to his teacher? For a non-technical person to decide where that line is would be very difficult (as a technical person, I couldn't tell you offhand where it stops). 'No computing devices' is easy, and not unreasonable. Of course, anyone on HN will complain that the legal system needs to be aware of technology. If we get into that argument, every public representative will need to be a painter, race car driver, astronaut and programmer. Because they don't really understand <x> well enough to legislate about it.