🚀 go-pugleaf

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X-Mailer: InterCon TCP/Connect II 1.1b31
Date: Thu,  4 Feb 1993 11:52:25 -0500
From: Dave Banisar <banisar@washofc.cpsr.org>
To: banisar@washofc.cpsr.org
Subject: CPSR Sues Secret Service for 2600 Docs

CPSR SEEKS RECORDS ON ILLEGAL SEARCH: QUESTIONS SECRET SERVICE RAID

	Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility (CPSR) filed 
suit in federal court today seeking information on the role of the 
Secret Service in the disruption of a meeting of computer users 
last November.  The incident, which occurred at the Pentagon City Mall 
in Arlington, Virginia, has been described as an example of overzealous 
law enforcement  activities directed against so-called computer "hackers."

	On November 6, 1992, a group of  people affiliated with the 
computer magazine "2600" were confronted by mall security personnel, 
local police officers and several unidentified individuals.  The group 
members were ordered to identify themselves and to submit to 
searches of their personal property.  Their names were recorded by 
mall security personnel and some of their property was confiscated.  
However, no charges were ever brought against any of the individuals 
at the meeting.

  The Secret Service has not formally acknowledged its role in the 
November incident.  However, a mall security official and  the
 Arlington County Police have  said that Secret Service agents were 
present and directed the activities of the mall security personnel.  

  "If this was a  Secret Service operation, it raises serious constitutional  
questions.  It is unlawful for the government to disrupt a meeting of people 
who are peaceably assembled and to seize their personal property.  We have
filed this FOIA suit to determine  the precise role of the Secret
Service in this affair," said CPSR Washington Director Marc Rotenberg.

	CPSR submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to 
the Secret Service several days after the incident.  To date, the agency 
has failed to respond.  Under the law FOIA requesters may file suit in
federal court when an agency has not complied with the legally
imposed time limits.
 
  CPSR, a national membership organization that protects civil liberties 
for computer users, previously filed a FOIA suit against the Secret
Service after the agency was criticized for several poorly conducted
investigations of computer users.  Documents disclosed to CPSR from
the Operation Sun Devil case revealed that the agency monitored
publicly accessible electronic "bulletin boards." 

   CPSR has recommended the development of  guidelines for computer crime 
investigations an called for a reassessment of the Secret Service's role in 
the computer crime field.

  For more information about the suit, contact David Sobel (202) 544 9240 
Email: dsobel@washofc.cpsr.org

For CPSR membership information, contact CPSR % PO Box 717 % Palo Alto, CA 
94302-0717  (415) 322-3778  Email: cpsr@csli.standford.edu. Copies of 
CPSR documents are available via FTP and Gopher from cpsr.org, folder /cpsr.



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