HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: kadie@cs.uiuc.edu (Carl M. Kadie)
Newsgroups: alt.comp.acad-freedom.talk
Subject: [news.admin.misc, et al.]  ALERT RE POSTINGS AND CORNELL ACCESS TO ALT.*.*.EROTICA HIERARCHY
Date: 18 Nov 92 21:58:00 GMT
Followup-To: alt.comp.acad-freedom.talk,news.admin.misc,news.config
Organization: University of Illinois, Dept. of Comp. Sci., Urbana, IL

[A repost - Carl]

Newsgroups: news.admin.misc,news.config
From: M. Stuart Lynn <msl1@cornell.edu>
Subject:  ALERT RE POSTINGS AND CORNELL ACCESS TO ALT.*.*.EROTICA HIERARCHY
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1992 20:28:32 GMT

ALERT ON POSTINGS TO AND CORNELL ACTION REGARDING
ALT.BINARIES.PICTURES.EROTICA

It has come to my attention that certain pictures encoded as GIF files
are circulating on the NetNews newsgroup alt.binaries.pictures.erotica
(a.b.p.e) whose transmission may constitute violations of the United
States Code regarding sexual exploitation of minors, in particular
Section 2252. These pictures depict unclothed young children displayed in
a manner that could be construed as constituting sexually explicit
conduct as defined in the Code. Although some of these pictures may have
originated from outside of the United States, it is known that a number
of them have been re-distributed from sources within the United States.

One of these sources may have originated at Cornell, but there appear to
be other sources associated with other institutions. It also appears that
individuals from many institutions are explicily requesting copies of
these files. 

Effective immediately, Cornell's official newstand will no longer provide
access to the a.b.p.e, hierarchy at least until we can ascertain that
there has been no violation of the law.

M. Stuart Lynn
Vice President for Information Technologies
-- 
Carl Kadie -- kadie@cs.uiuc.edu -- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Xref: sparky alt.comp.acad-freedom.talk:3416 alt.society.civil-liberty:6591 misc.legal:20029
From: greeny@eff.org (J S Greenfield)
Subject: Re: [news.admin.misc]  Re: ALERT RE POSTINGS AND CORNELL ACCESS TO ALT.*.*.EROTICA HIERARCHY
Originator: greeny@eff.org
Organization: Electronic Frontier Foundation
Date: Sat, 21 Nov 1992 16:46:54 GMT

In article <1992Nov20.165220.2446@news.columbia.edu> dan@cubmol.bio.columbia.edu (Daniel Zabetakis) writes:

>>
>>Based upon a summary of the US child pornography standards, it is plausible
>>to me that "RUKO.GIF" could be found to constitute "child pornography."
>>(That particular picture included a close-up of the child's genitalia.)
>
>   Perhaps, but only by a gross misinterpretation of the law. RUKO.GIF can
>only be pornographic if _all_ nudity is pornographic. The MA law that 
>stated this was overturned.

I make no claims to be an expert on child pornography--but I'm certainly
not satisfied by your claim.  I made my comment on the basis of a summary
of a federal statute that specifically identified "lewd" and "lascivious"
photographs of genitalia.  RUKO.GIF included both a full-length nude
photo and a close of the child's genitals.

Given the very subjective nature of the terms "lewd" and "lascivious," I
hardly think it is obvious that this photographic could "only be pornographic
if all nudity is pornographic."


>   The picture is very obviously one of those art-photo's that I particularly
>hate.

Obvious to you, I guess...


>But there is no erotic content, and the posting drew complaints that
>it shouldn't have been posted to a group with 'erotica' in the name.

I guess "erotic content" is in the eye of the beholder.  Perhaps you mean
that it didn't turn *you* on.  I don't judge "erotic content" solely by
what turns *me* on.

I had the impression that RUKO.GIF was intended to be "erotic" in nature.
I certainly did not have the impression that it was intended to be "art."

That doesn't say that I'm right.  But it does say that your interpretation
is not "obvious" to everybody.

And incidentally, the vast majority of the complaints that I saw regarding
RUKO.GIF were from people who thought it *was* erotic in nature.


-- 
J. S. Greenfield                                         greeny@top.cis.syr.edu
(I like to put 'greeny' here,                            greeny@eff.org 
but my d*mn system wants a 
*real* name!)                        "What's the difference between an orange?"
From: wohler@sapwdf.UUCP (Bill Wohler)
Newsgroups: alt.comp.acad-freedom.talk
Subject: Re: [UPI] "FBI probes computer child porn at Cornell"
Date: 23 Nov 92 14:59:52 GMT
Reply-To: Bill Wohler <wohler@sap-ag.de>
Organization: SAP AG, Walldorf, Germany

gaynor@inferno.rutgers.edu (Silver) writes:
>This country (USA) is pissing me off.

  me too.  in fact, i finally hit the trans-apathetic stage and will
  be writing for addresses of state and federal politicos, as well as
  some papers and magazines, so i can write them and tell them that the
  "moral majority" is neither.  i suggest you do the same.

  if anyone knows if these addresses are available on-line, please
  e-mail the source to me (i do not get this newsgroup).

  america, the land of the free?

Bill Wohler <wohler@sap-ag.de> <sapwdf!wohler>
Heidelberg Red Barons Ultimate Frisbee Team
Newsgroups: alt.comp.acad-freedom.talk
From: fsspr@acad3.alaska.edu (Sean P. Ryan, Hardcore Alaskan)
Newsgroups: alt.comp.acad-freedom.talk,soc.college
Subject: Re: The FBI takes a trip to Cornell...
Date: 23 Nov 92 05:12:00 GMT
Article-I.D.: acad3.22NOV199221120322
Reply-To: sean@freds.cojones.com
Followup-To: soc.college
Distribution: usa
Organization: University of Fairbanks, Alaska...no wait, that's not right...
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41.UAC

In article <9211202036.AA12053@crocus.cit.cornell.edu>, escheire@sunlab.cit.cornell.edu (Eric Scheirer) writes...
> 
>Criticisms I have:
> 
>> Marjorie W. Hodges J.D. '91, judicial administrator, said her office is
>> pursuing its own investigation.  The student may have violated a Campus
>> Code of Conduct status that forbids "trafficking, for profit or
>> otherwise, in goods and services, when incompatible with the interest
>> of the University and the Cornell community."  She would not comment
>> any further on the case.
> 
>This is Section J of Article II of Title 3 of the Cornell Code of Conduct.
>It is far, far, far too vague.  Further, Article II of Title 1 seems to 
>exclude the possibility of simultaneous University and criminal action.

Of course it is.  It's generally the case of colleges and universities
to enact incredibly vague conduct regulations, most particularly
amongst public schools.  This way, the administration can get rid of
any students they so desire for most any reason.  Since most school
administrators regard students in the same sense as they regard the
shit they excrete when they use the bathroom, it doesn't matter to
them that these regulations they enact bear little resemblance to the
concept of "equal justice."  Even if a court of law finds in favor of
the student, they still have reason to deny the student his prior
standing at the school.

**********************************************************************
Sean Patrick Ryan, Hardcore Alaskan *** This account is expiring soon;
please direct all e-mail to sean@freds.cojones.com - thanks! *********
Oh, and did I ever tell you how much I want to fnord you?  :-) *******
Newsgroups: alt.comp.acad-freedom.talk,news.admin.policy,comp.admin.policy
From: emcguire@intellection.com (Ed McGuire)
Subject: Re: [UPI] "FBI probes computer child porn at Cornell"
Organization: Intellection, Inc.
	<1992Nov21.184453.4548@eff.org>
	<Nov.22.20.51.11.1992.20989@inferno.rutgers.edu>
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1992 16:58:42 GMT

In article <Nov.22.20.51.11.1992.20989@inferno.rutgers.edu> gaynor@inferno.rutgers.edu (Silver) writes:

   > Netnews
   That's "Usenet" or "UseNet", not "Netnews".

If you are going to be so picky about semantics, let me point out that
you are dead wrong.  "Usenet" names the big seven.  Since the pictures
were carried in the alt hierarchy, not any of the big seven, they
cannot be said to have been posted to Usenet.  "Netnews" is the
generally accepted name for the entire news network.  See the C News
documentation, for example.
-- 
Ed McGuire                   1603 LBJ Freeway, Suite 780
Systems Administrator/       Dallas, Texas 75234
 Member of Technical Staff   214/620-2100, FAX 214/484-8110
Intellection, Inc.           <ed@intellection.com>
Newsgroups: alt.comp.acad-freedom.talk
From: jbotz@mtholyoke.edu (Jurgen Botz)
Subject: Good news for the Net (was: Re: [UPI] "FBI probes computer child porn at Cornell")
Organization: Mount Holyoke College
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1992 22:59:59 GMT

In article <1992Nov21.184453.4548@eff.org> kadie@eff.org (Carl M. Kadie)
forwards a Clarinet article which states:
>	ITHACA, N.Y. (UPI) -- The FBI is investigating whether a Cornell
>University sophomore has transmitted child pornography over computer
>bulletin boards, a report said Friday.
>	The New York Times said agents this week raided a student's room as
>part of an investigation that began Nov. 11, after the administrator of
>another bulletin board told the Ivy League university of seeing material
>involving sexual exploitation of minors.

This is very good news... it reaffirms the principle that the poster
is responsible for material posted to the Net, not the indviduals
or orginizations providing the physical infrastructure and storage
for the Net.

--
Jurgen Botz                  |   Internet: JBotz@mtholyoke.edu
Academic Systems Consultant  |     Bitnet: JBotz@mhc.bitnet
Mount Holyoke College        |      Voice: (US) 413-538-2375 (daytime)
South Hadley, MA, USA        | Snail Mail: J. Botz, 01075-0629
Newsgroups: alt.comp.acad-freedom.talk
From: sef@kithrup.COM (Sean Eric Fagan)
Subject: Re: [UPI] "FBI probes computer child porn at Cornell"
Organization: Kithrup Enterprises, Ltd.
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1992 02:53:11 GMT

In article <Nov.22.20.51.11.1992.20989@inferno.rutgers.edu> gaynor@inferno.rutgers.edu (Silver) writes:
>THE PERSECUTION OF MORRIS WAS UNJUSTIFIED (and I _hate_ using all-caps for
>emphasis).  It was his graduate project in computer risks and security.  Given
>the worm's tenacity, the likelihood of its accidental release is high enough to
>believe that its release _was_ accidental.  Regardless, it did nothing more
>than propagate itself.  Many consider his worm a good thing.

Many consider it a criminal act.  I do not know anyone of the thousands of
people whose machines were brought to a standstill who considers the
Internet Worm to have been "a good thing."  In addition, there was little to
nothing accidental about the worm; it was not a graduate project (no advisor
would have permitted it, except under the strictest of controls, none of
which were present in the worm); and there is reason to believe that its
release was *not* accidental.

What Morris did was unjustified, and the fact that he got away with nothing
but a slap on the wrist is disgusting; I still think everyone affected
should have filed a civil suit as well as criminal charges.

-- 
Sean Eric Fagan  | "Time and space is a bitch!"
sef@kithrup.COM  |    -- Gooshie (Dennis Wolfberg),
-----------------+       "Quantum Leap:  Killin' Time"
Any opinions expressed are my own, and generally unpopular with others.
Newsgroups: alt.comp.acad-freedom.talk
From: emcguire@intellection.com (Ed McGuire)
Subject: Re: [UPI] "FBI probes computer child porn at Cornell"
Organization: Intellection, Inc.
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1992 16:54:10 GMT

In article <1enjq4INNslt@clinet.fi> alien@clinet.fi (Risto Juvonen) writes:

    huh, I'm very pleased that I'm living in Finland, our "secret police"
   has better things to do with taxpayers money that they would waste
   time for investigating pornography. And, they could not even do that:
   pornography is not enough big crime that they can do house search.
   Nice to live in _free_ country! Sorry for you, U.S. citizens...

I hope that one of the "better things" they have to do is investigate
child abuse.  I think that /child/ pornography is so likely to damage
the children photographed that it ought to be treated very seriously.

However, I also hope that the student(s) involved in posting it will
not be dealt with as severely as the creator(s) of the photographs.
Unless, of course, it is shown that they are the same people.
-- 
Ed McGuire                   1603 LBJ Freeway, Suite 780
Systems Administrator/       Dallas, Texas 75234
 Member of Technical Staff   214/620-2100, FAX 214/484-8110
Intellection, Inc.           <ed@intellection.com>
Newsgroups: alt.comp.acad-freedom.talk,comp.org.eff.talk,soc.college.grad,comp.org.acm,misc.int-property
From: karish@pangea.Stanford.EDU (Chuck Karish)
Newsgroups: alt.comp.acad-freedom.talk
Subject: Re: The Internet worm, again! (was: [UPI] "FBI probes computer child porn at Cornell")
Date: 23 Nov 1992 21:25:25 GMT
Organization: Mindcraft, Inc.
NNTP-Posting-Host: pangea.stanford.edu

In article <Nov.22.20.51.11.1992.20989@inferno.rutgers.edu>
gaynor@inferno.rutgers.edu (Silver) writes:
>> In October, sophomores David Blumenthal and Mark Pilgrim were sentenced to
>> community service for creating a computer virus that wreaked havoc on
>> software as far away as Japan.
>Good.  Thanks!
>
>> In 1988, graduate student Robert Morris Jr. was convicted and fined $10,000
>> for launching a computer ``worm,'' which also destroys software but differs
>> from a virus in that it is self-perpetuating.

[ The important  difference is that the worm was self-propagating.
Most viruses are self-perpetuating, but depend on careless
users for propagation to new machines. ]

>THE PERSECUTION OF MORRIS WAS UNJUSTIFIED (and I _hate_ using all-caps for
>emphasis).  It was his graduate project in computer risks and security.  Given
>the worm's tenacity, the likelihood of its accidental release is high enough to
>believe that its release _was_ accidental.  Regardless, it did nothing more
>than propagate itself.  Many consider his worm a good thing.

Using the worm's tenacity as an argument for its release
having been accidental is akin to asking for blanket pleas
of "not guilty by reason of insanity" because heinous
criminal acts are so obviously committed only by people who
are not rational.

The furtive approach that was coded into the worm is more
consistent with an intended prank than with a research
project.  The fact that Morris was working on such a
project and was knowledgeable about the potential effects
of such a program makes his actions more reprehensible, not
less.

Th those who would classify this prank as a cautionary
demonstration of vulnerability, I'd reply that I agree.
However, it was a demonstration that was carried out
in full knowledge that its tactics were illegal.  Like
practitioners of civil disobedience in political
demonstrations, Morris has to be prepared to face the
consequences of his actions.

>This country (USA) is pissing me off.

Fine.  Move to Rumania, where virus writers are underground
heroes.  Don't complain about the rest of the political
system there, though.
--

    Chuck Karish          karish@mindcraft.com
    (415) 323-9000 x117   karish@pangea.stanford.edu
From: mgflax@ernie.Princeton.EDU (Marshall G. Flax)
Newsgroups: alt.comp.acad-freedom.talk,comp.admin.policy
Subject: Re: Preventing Sexual Harassment?
Summary: Pedantic math major at work
Date: 15 Nov 92 16:43:26 GMT
Article-I.D.: Princeto.1992Nov15.164326.13850
Followup-To: poster
Organization: Princeton University

In article <Bx5HAp.9It@rice.edu> jaw@owlnet.rice.edu (Joseph A. Watters) writes:
>These included the _quid pro quo_ ("If you have sex with
>me I will give you a job, promote you, etc," or conversely, "if you
>don't have sex with me, you're fired") activites which are
>specifically prohibited by the sexual harassment law.  

Sorry, but that's actually the _inverse_, not the _converse_.  We now
return to our regularly scheduled debate.

marshall
-- 
=========== 5 Joyce Lane, Woodbury, NY 11797, 516-364-9331,9379 ===========
============= c/o Christine Faltz, Hofstra U., 516-463-2720 ===============
====== PGP 2.0 Public Key available by finger or request  <EFF #922> ======
= Original material(c) 1992, Marshall Flax <mgflax@phoenix.Princeton.EDU> =
Newsgroups: alt.comp.acad-freedom.talk,news.admin.misc
From: dan@cubmol.bio.columbia.edu (Daniel Zabetakis)
Subject: Re: [news.admin.misc]  Re: ALERT RE POSTINGS AND CORNELL ACCESS TO ALT.*.*.EROTICA HIERARCHY
Organization: Columbia University, Dept. of Biological Sciences.
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1992 16:52:20 GMT

In article <1992Nov20.044211.7776@eff.org> greeny@eff.org (J S Greenfield) writes:
>
>Based upon a summary of the US child pornography standards, it is plausible
>to me that "RUKO.GIF" could be found to constitute "child pornography."
>(That particular picture included a close-up of the child's genitalia.)
>

   Perhaps, but only by a gross misinterpretation of the law. RUKO.GIF can
only be pornographic if _all_ nudity is pornographic. The MA law that 
stated this was overturned.
   The picture is very obviously one of those art-photo's that I particularly
hate. But there is no erotic content, and the posting drew complaints that
it shouldn't have been posted to a group with 'erotica' in the name. Posting
it to alt.b.p.misc wouold have been better, IMHO (which doesn't go far in
a.b.p.m).
   The picture didn't show a closup of any genitals, BTW. The girl was standing
with her legs together. You could see a fold of skin in which her genitals
would be located. 

DanZ

-- 
This article is for entertainment purposes only. Any facts, opinions,
narratives or ideas contained herein are not necessarily true, and do
not necessarily represent the views of any particular person.  

Newsgroups: alt.comp.acad-freedom.talk
From: kadie@cs.uiuc.edu (Carl M. Kadie)
Subject: [news.admin, et al.]  Re: Child porn posting investigated by FBI
Followup-To: alt.comp.acad-freedom.talk,news.admin,news.admin.policy,comp.org.eff.talk
Organization: University of Illinois, Dept. of Comp. Sci., Urbana, IL
Date: Sat, 21 Nov 1992 03:55:14 GMT

[A repost - Carl]

Newsgroups: news.admin,news.admin.policy,comp.org.eff.talk
From: reed@snake.tc.cornell.edu (Michael G. Reed)
Subject:  Re: Child porn posting investigated by FBI
Date: Sat, 21 Nov 1992 02:13:47 GMT

In article <1992Nov20.232602.9842@clarinet.com>, brad@clarinet.com (Brad Templeton) writes:
|> According to our story this morning from UPI (in clari.tw.computers) the
|> FBI is investigating the alleged posting of child porn to the net from
|> Cornell.
|> 
|> The student in question's dorm room has been raided (!) but no charges have
|> been filed.
|> 
|> Lovely.

Yes, and just like clockwork Cornell started to restrict the campus newsfeed.
No more a.b.p.e tree (not that I frequent the area, just found it interesting
when the newsgroups showed up missing....).

|> -- 
|> Brad Templeton, ClariNet Communications Corp. -- Sunnyvale, CA 408/296-0366

-Michael
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Michael G. Reed                                         (reed@TC.Cornell.EDU)
Cornell National Supercomputing Facility
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Why be normal, it's boring; and boring people should be shot.

Note:  These are not the views of my employer (and probably not mine either).
-- 
Carl Kadie -- I do not represent any organization; this is just me.
 = kadie@cs.uiuc.edu =
Newsgroups: alt.comp.acad-freedom.talk,alt.dreams
From: morgan@ms.uky.edu (Wes Morgan)
Subject: Re: [alt.dreams]  Re: McElwaine's postings (was Re: THE DIVINE 
    MASTERS, and Dreams)
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 1992 19:48:54 GMT
Organization: University of Kentucky Engineering Computing Center

>Newsgroups: alt.dreams
>From: entpph@ritvax.isc.rit.edu
>Subject:  Re: McElwaine's postings (was Re: THE DIVINE MASTERS, and Dreams)
>
>Many thanks to Gary Trujillo for bringing to light attempts to muzzle
>Robert McElwaine.  McElwaine's beliefs couldn't be farther from my own,
>but attempts to deprive him of his rights by revoking his "privleges"
>are unacceptable.  

Um, his privileges aren't being revoked yet; see my comments below.

>I wonder if McElwaine would be experiencing the same difficulties if
>the content of his messages were in praise of the Reublican Party or 
>the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals?

I think so; again, see my later comments for details.

>I suggest we all send Robert McElwaine a message of support at
>mcelwre@cnsvax.uwec.edu, and a message of protest about his
>treatment to Charles Brenner (data systems manager?) at
>cbrenner@uwec.edu.

I suggest that we take a step back and look at the entire picture.

Mr. McElwaine has been sending materials to several (many?) electronic 
mailing lists and bulletin boards.  These materials seem to have little
in common with the ongoing discussions on those lists/boards/groups.  I
would suggest that the mere existence of a mailing list does NOT imply
that it may be used as a forum for unlimited free expression.  

[ I run a mailing list for StarServer owners/admins; I don't want to see ]
[ traffic that deals with far-removed subjects.  It's a pain, and it de- ]
[ tracts from the direction of the list.			 	 ]

The owners/operators/moderators of those lists have the ability to ensure
that their forum remains "on topic"; this capability is part of the "limited
public forum" doctrine endorsed by the Supreme Court.  Therefore, it is pro-
per for these owners/operators/moderators to request that such "off topic"
activies cease.

Assuming that these requests were, in fact, made and that they were, in
fact, ignored, a complaint to the appropriate administrator would be proper.
The owners/operators/moderators of a mailing list or bulletin board have an
obligation to their subscribers.

[ Again, I would make similar complaints if someone flooded my mailing list ]
[ with, say, Clinton-Gore OR Bush-Quayle political hoohah.  My subscribers  ]
[ are interested in StarServer information, not political crud; they have   ]
[ any number of fora which provide that information.			    ]

I noticed one very important thing in the included message.  Apparently,
no action will be taken against this fellow UNLESS he ignores a request
to cease such activity.  I consider that a fair compromise.

--Wes

-- 
MORGAN@UKCC         |       Wes Morgan       |        ...!ukma!ukecc!morgan 
morgan@ms.uky.edu   | Engineering  Computing |   morgan@wuarchive.wustl.edu
morgan@engr.uky.edu | University of Kentucky | JWMorgan@dockmaster.ncsc.mil
  Mailing list for AT&T StarServer S/E  - starserver-request@engr.uky.edu
From: gaynor@inferno.rutgers.edu (Silver)
Newsgroups: alt.comp.acad-freedom.talk
Subject: Re: [UPI] "FBI probes computer child porn at Cornell"
Date: 24 Nov 92 00:05:36 GMT
Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J.

Well, several folks have brought it to my attention that I was way off base
in my perception of Morris's worm.  To those that served me my crow cooked to
delicate perfection, thanks for the info.  To those that served it burnt to
a crisp, refuckinglax.  Again, sorry for spreading my misinformation.

Blushing, [Ag]