4 ms·

What law did they supposedly break?

by tgb 12y ago

Hrundi 12y ago
> The state’s attorney general claims Rubin and his classmates violated New Jersey computer crime laws and demanded they hand over source code for their creation and any documentation related to the tool.
- drdaeman 12y ago
  That's too vague, unfortunately.
- darkarmani 12y ago
  > any documentation related to the tool. Documentation from a hackathon? If anything they should print out their source code on paper and hand it over.
tyfon 12y ago
They pissed off the wrong people. It might not be written down, but the law is there.
- Fuxy 12y ago
  I'm sure they will write it down as they go along.
- lotsofmangos 12y ago
  That isn't generally what is known as 'law'.
acomjean 12y ago
Was wondering the same thing, the only thing I could find (and its vague) was: "Officials claimed that Rubin’s project, which allowed people to replace advertisements on websites with Bitcoin mining capabilities, had the potential to breach computer security through unauthorized access and possibly violated the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act." http://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/blog/2014/09/22/mit-students-head-court-bitcoin-hackathon-project/ http://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/blog/2014/09/22/mit-stude...
- nwh 12y ago
  Under that definition a lot of things are too dangerous to own. That libc you're packing? You're heading for jail for that, you potential criminal.
  - atmosx 12y ago
    Yeah, by that measure a computer able to compile source code into exec, should be considered weapon of mass destruction given the potential.
  - lotsofmangos 12y ago
    the potential to breach computer security through unauthorized access never mind code, it covers everything from soldering irons to telephones
    - nwh 12y ago
      The purchasing of this product presents a high risk of potential thought-crime.
      - happyscrappy 12y ago
        Being hyperbolic helps the opposition.
        RickHull 12y ago
        It's not hyperbole when it's accurate.
        lotsofmangos 12y ago
        Not if you also laugh and point.
- 1ris 12y ago
  Is playing autoplay videos "unauthorized access" too?
woah 12y ago
Too bad all the comments here are just angry and contribute no understanding. The reason that this could be illegal is because it is using someone's computer in an unauthorized way to mine bitcoins.
- x1798DE 12y ago
  I'm not even sure it would be illegal even if you just started using Javascript miners on every page as a condition for viewing the page - with or without notice. I don't think many people would consider it illegal to display an advertisement in a page "without authorization", or run an animated advertisement. That said, running these things without user consent isn't even the business model - they are specifically talking about allowing users to choose whether they'd like to do bitcoin mining or view ads, and they haven't released the product yet, so, basically the reason it "could be illegal" is because someone could take it and use it contrary to the intent of its creators in such a way that their actions have dubious legality. Should we also arrest all mask manufacturers because someone could wear one when robbing a bank?
- pixl97 12y ago
  Right, and the hammer in my house could be used as a method to gain unauthorized entry to someones house. The problem here is the word 'unauthorized'. What if the website has an EULA that says something like "By visiting foo.bar.com your computer will be used to mine Bitcoins, if you do not accept this agreement please close this website". Now by most legal definitions I understand it is no longer unauthorized, the TOS authorized such uses. Next, why should mining Bitcoins be directly illegal in such a manner? Are stupid, slow, annoying flash ads that play music and videos illegal? They are 'programs' that use my computers resources for the end result of generating revenue for the website.
- Crito 12y ago
  > "The reason that this could be illegal is because it is..." Stop being dishonest. It isn't and never has.
- woah 12y ago
  Wow, thanks for the downvotes. FYI, I'm totally pro-bitcoin and anti-government, just like you, so trying to punish me for having a conflicting opinion is dumb. I'm simply trying to enlighten people as to what the prosecution's stand is on the issue, not that I agree with them. Just trying to contribute a bit more than "ehrmehgerd evilll!!!11"
hawleyal 12y ago
Apparently running unauthorized JavaScript is now computer fraud.

What law did they supposedly break?

by tgb 12y ago

What law did they supposedly break?

> The state’s attorney general claims Rubin and his classmates violated New Jersey computer crime laws and demanded they hand over source code for their creation and any documentation related to the tool.

drdaeman 12y ago
That's too vague, unfortunately.
darkarmani 12y ago
> any documentation related to the tool. Documentation from a hackathon? If anything they should print out their source code on paper and hand it over.

tyfon 12y ago

They pissed off the wrong people. It might not be written down, but the law is there.

Fuxy 12y ago
I'm sure they will write it down as they go along.
lotsofmangos 12y ago
That isn't generally what is known as 'law'.

acomjean 12y ago

Was wondering the same thing, the only thing I could find (and its vague) was: "Officials claimed that Rubin’s project, which allowed people to replace advertisements on websites with Bitcoin mining capabilities, had the potential to breach computer security through unauthorized access and possibly violated the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act." http://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/blog/2014/09/22/mit-students-head-court-bitcoin-hackathon-project/ http://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/blog/2014/09/22/mit-stude...

nwh 12y ago
Under that definition a lot of things are too dangerous to own. That libc you're packing? You're heading for jail for that, you potential criminal.
- atmosx 12y ago
  Yeah, by that measure a computer able to compile source code into exec, should be considered weapon of mass destruction given the potential.
- lotsofmangos 12y ago
  the potential to breach computer security through unauthorized access never mind code, it covers everything from soldering irons to telephones
  - nwh 12y ago
    The purchasing of this product presents a high risk of potential thought-crime.
    - happyscrappy 12y ago
      Being hyperbolic helps the opposition.
      - RickHull 12y ago
        It's not hyperbole when it's accurate.
      - lotsofmangos 12y ago
        Not if you also laugh and point.
1ris 12y ago
Is playing autoplay videos "unauthorized access" too?

woah 12y ago

Too bad all the comments here are just angry and contribute no understanding. The reason that this could be illegal is because it is using someone's computer in an unauthorized way to mine bitcoins.

x1798DE 12y ago
I'm not even sure it would be illegal even if you just started using Javascript miners on every page as a condition for viewing the page - with or without notice. I don't think many people would consider it illegal to display an advertisement in a page "without authorization", or run an animated advertisement. That said, running these things without user consent isn't even the business model - they are specifically talking about allowing users to choose whether they'd like to do bitcoin mining or view ads, and they haven't released the product yet, so, basically the reason it "could be illegal" is because someone could take it and use it contrary to the intent of its creators in such a way that their actions have dubious legality. Should we also arrest all mask manufacturers because someone could wear one when robbing a bank?
pixl97 12y ago
Right, and the hammer in my house could be used as a method to gain unauthorized entry to someones house. The problem here is the word 'unauthorized'. What if the website has an EULA that says something like "By visiting foo.bar.com your computer will be used to mine Bitcoins, if you do not accept this agreement please close this website". Now by most legal definitions I understand it is no longer unauthorized, the TOS authorized such uses. Next, why should mining Bitcoins be directly illegal in such a manner? Are stupid, slow, annoying flash ads that play music and videos illegal? They are 'programs' that use my computers resources for the end result of generating revenue for the website.
Crito 12y ago
> "The reason that this could be illegal is because it is..." Stop being dishonest. It isn't and never has.
woah 12y ago
Wow, thanks for the downvotes. FYI, I'm totally pro-bitcoin and anti-government, just like you, so trying to punish me for having a conflicting opinion is dumb. I'm simply trying to enlighten people as to what the prosecution's stand is on the issue, not that I agree with them. Just trying to contribute a bit more than "ehrmehgerd evilll!!!11"

hawleyal 12y ago

Apparently running unauthorized JavaScript is now computer fraud.