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> Does anyone know more details on the actual crimes? I didn't see it in the article.

First sentence:

"The US protagonists in a viral fundraising campaign for a homeless man have been charged with theft by deception and conspiracy."

> Didn't just gullible people on GoFundMe fall for a fake sap story?

Yes, but there are laws that make various forms of such behavior criminal, such as fraud and criminal deception.

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>> but I'm confused about what part of what they did was actually illegal? Didn't just gullible people on GoFundMe fall for a fake sap story?

> Yes, but there are laws that make various forms of such behavior criminal, such as fraud and criminal deception.

It's kinda depressing that some people seem to think the law ends (or even worse, should end) at caveat emptor.

So I'm guessing 'theft by deception' is a great example of arbitrary law. If it were applied universally I'd expect most adtech firms would be out of business.

How is it arbitrary? Deception seems like a pretty objective measure to me. If it would put most adtech firms out of business then that’s a problem with adtech, not with the law.

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