From: kadie@eff.org (Carl M. Kadie)
Subject: Re: Banned Computer Material 1992
Originator: kadie@eff.org
Organization: The Electronic Frontier Foundation
Date: Thu, 1 Oct 1992 13:47:06 GMT

RE: Computer code bans at Ball State U. and U. of Wyoming

Hank Nussbacher <HANK@BARILVM.BITNET> writes:

[...]
>I somehow don't understand the two examples above - how does
>this impinge the rights of their free speech?  Let us take the first example:
>suppose I carry a handgun tucked under my shirt.  I have not used it and don't
>intend to use it.  What right does anyone have to stop me and take away my gun
>when I enter their building?
[...]

The right to bare arms is not (usually) part of academic freedom.

>I assume you see the sarcasism.  In the 2nd example: suppose I wish
>to determine the 1,000,000,000th digit of PI.  I really want to know.
>I run a program to figure it out.  The computer center sees an
>incredible use of CPU time from my account over the past 48 hours.
>They kill my program - and I take them to court suing them under the
>bill of rights that they are taking away my freedom of expression.
[...]

The user would and should loose. If a running computer program is
interfering with a computer site, then there is nothing wrong with
killing it or banning it from running. In the cases listed, however,
the site went beyond banning the processing of the program, they also
banned possessing it.

- Carl

ANNOTATED REFERENCES

(All these documents are available on-line. Access information follows.)

=================
news/cafv02n11: Message-Id: <9202161945.AA24863@bsu-cs.bsu.edu>
=================
An article from the Computers and Academic Freedom News 02.11

Notes 5-7 are about privacy.

5. A user on this system was apparently running a password cracking
program.  An administer searched my files and found I had a copy of
the newest version of Crack.  I have legitimate reasons for having
this program.  I have received mail from the Chairman of the
Department "inviting" me to discuss my account privileges. "It really
bothers me that I'm going to get in a lot of trouble (probably anyway)
just for the mere possession of a program."

=================
news/cafv02n08: Message-Id: <3803321809011992_A11466_POSSE_11614C9F3200@mrgate.uwyo.edu>
=================
An article from the Computers and Academic Freedom News 02.08

Notes 10-11 discuss the recent removal of software from users'
accounts, computer suspendions before hearings, and searches
of user files at the University of Wyoming, 

10. (A student:) I compiled an IRC client and master on a computer at U
Wyoming.  I provided access to this software to other users.  Upon
receiving complaints, the system administrators removed access for all
users who had used IRC.  In order to get their accounts back, the
users had to remove all IRC software from their accounts and agree not
to use IRC on the computer.  "After I agreed to do this, my (Cluster)
account was reinabled and I was told 2 hours later it would be
searched for IRC files. If any were ever found again, I would be
disusered without hope for reinstatement."

=================
banned.1992
=================
A list of computer material that was banned or challenged in academia
in 1992.
=================
=================

These document(s) are available by anonymous ftp (the preferred
method) and by email. To get the file(s) via ftp, do an anonymous ftp
to ftp.eff.org (192.88.144.4), and get file(s):

  pub/academic/news/cafv02n11
  pub/academic/news/cafv02n08
  pub/academic/banned.1992

To get the file(s) by email, send email to archive-server@eff.org.
Include the line(s) (be sure to include the space before the file
name):

send acad-freedom/news cafv02n11
send acad-freedom/news cafv02n08
send acad-freedom banned.1992

-- 
Carl Kadie -- I do not represent EFF; this is just me.
 =kadie@eff.org, kadie@cs.uiuc.edu =
Newsgroups: alt.comp.acad-freedom.talk