Story: UK law will criminalise IT pros, say experts
Posted by: Ron d'Lawyer (Monday 22 May 2006, 10:26 AM)
So, it would be illegal to sell PCs or MS Windows?
I mean correct me if I'm wrong, but I read part (b) to say:
A person is guilty of an offence if he makes or supplies any article, believing it is likely to be used to assist in the commission of, an offence [of hacking etc].
You cannot very easily commit a computer misuse offence without a computer, and it's probably going to be running MS Windows. So people like Mr Dell and Mr Gates are going to believe it likely their products will be used to assist with commiting computer misuse offences - hence they are breaking the proposed law.
This is totally stupid - you may as well make it illegal to sell cars, as it is likely they will be used by some people to commit road traffic offnces. Or it's illegal to sell houses as it's likely they will be used by some people to set up illegal crack dens. Come on - anything CAN be used for a crime, and is likely to be used for one, and you can, in selling it, reasonably expect it will be, but it's the CRIMINALS who are committing the offence.
Does the government have no legal advisers - I thought Tony Blair was a barrister.
Full Talkback thread
Story: UK law will criminalise IT pros, say experts
-
The real goal lobbied for really is ofcourse getti... Arthur B. -
The sooner parliament is dragged kicking and... Alan -
So, it would be illegal to sell PCs or MS Windows?... Ron d'Lawyer -
And where does this end? What defines an 'article... Jim Morrison
-
I contacted my MP, Meg Munn over this about 4 mont... Alan Fisher
-
Great, so now we have the Home Office telling us t... SK
-
STBO but this will be decided at great expense in... Steve B
-
As anyone who works in network admin knows, hackin... Addsy
-
Who is really behind this new law? Who actua... a n other
-
I also believe that hacking is currently ille... Myles
-
Looks like my turn for being raided and convicted... Sid Boyce
