------------------------------ Date: July 24, 1990 From: Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility Subject: CPSR Seeks FBI data on Bulletin Board Monitoring ******************************************************************** *** CuD #2.01: File 3 of 6: CPSR Seeks FBI BBS monitoring data *** ******************************************************************** +++++++++++++ The following notice from CPSR is reprinted with permission. +++++++++++++ LAWSUIT SEEKS FBI RECORDS ON COMPUTER MONITORING Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility filed a lawsuit in Federal District Court today to obtain information from the FBI about the monitoring of computer bulletin boards. Marc Rotenberg, director of the CPSR Washington Office, said that the disclosure of the records would provide a starting point for an informed discussion about the proper scope of computer crime investigations. He said that the FBI's failure to respond to CPSR's original Freedom of Information Act request made the lawsuit necessary. A computer bulletin board is a publicly accessible computer system that is designed to promote the exchange of views and information. Computer bulletin boards are also used for confidential communications that are directed to one or more specific parties. The Freedom of Information Act provides a legal right for individuals to obtain records held by government agencies. Under the law, agencies are required to respond within ten working days. When agencies fail to respond within a reasonable period of time, requesters often begin legal proceedings to obtain the information. CPSR filed the original FOIA request in August, 1989. After a series of letters from CPSR to the FBI failed to produce a response, the FOIA request was considered at a Congressional hearing in February, 1990. A subsequent letter from the Treasury Department revealed that the Secret Service was in fact monitoring computer bulletin boards. The FBI's activities are still not known. The lawsuit comes at a time of growing concern over the conduct of computer crime investigations directed toward "computer hackers." In one case, charges were dropped against a newsletter publisher after claims that a confidential business document was disclosed turned out to be false. In another case a game manufacturer in Austin, Texas suffered substantial business losses after a Secret Service raid earlier this year, though no charges were ever brought against the owner or his company. The case is CPSR v. FBI. Civil Action No. 90-2096, U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, August 28. For more information contact, the CPSR Washington Office, 1025 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suit 1015, Washington DC 20036 (202) 775-1588 or rotenberg@csli.stanford.edu. ******************************************************************** >> END OF THIS FILE << *************************************************************************** Downloaded From P-80 International Information Systems 304-744-2253 12yrs+