Comment by KSierra | Hacker News Reader

Comment by KSierra | Hacker News Reader

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Yes, this is the same person. While it had nothing to do with his AT&T/ CFAA conviction, do not think for a moment that weev cares about your personal privacy. This is, after all, the person whose weapon of choice against individuals is... doxing. For the lulz. We're programmers here, right? So we of all people should be able to decouple the case from the person. This is the last person we should be calling a hacktivist, or... Hero. He didn't do this for us. He didn't do this for public good. Still doesn't mean he should be in prison, though. I hope he wins on appeal, for all our sakes (CFAA). He destroyed a good chunk of my life and took some innocent family members along for the ride. Please, fight the CFAA, but don't think for a heartbeat that when it comes to protecting our privacy, rights, etc. that THIS is the guy who "has our back."

Thanks for posting this. It's a good perspective to have in these discussions, which can otherwise veer too far in the direction of legal nuance.

Thanks for the response and clarification.

I agree with your point about separating the issues.

I also recall (with some vagueness, and with no reference to cite) that Auernheimer may have pondered/vacillated upon what to do with the data, before deciding to take it to a journalist. I don't know whether there is any truth in that.

I'm of torn opinion about Auernheimer. I've had acquaintances and a few friends who deliberately, um... "mess with" "the system", for functional reasons that may be less apparent to many than the "attention" that gets ascribed. OTOH, they tend to draw a pretty sharp (yes, if personally defined) line between the culpable and the innocent (for lack of better terms, and yes in a subjective sense) and to put effort into avoiding harming the latter.

Based upon both your reputation and what you've done for me as well as others (we've emailed briefly once or twice, long ago), I'm inclined to take your point with significance and regard.

At the same time, Auernheimer does seem almost like the perfect... "extreme" counterpoint to the CFAA and its like. On opposite sides, but equal in their obnoxiousness. Almost "made for each other".

I hope he prevails in this case. Putting your customer data at the end of a public URL is the crime, here. And... it fits with my longstanding and poor personal experience with AT&T (à la SBC).

P.S. Given your history, I really hope that my comment and reply are appropriate and not painful.

Best Regards

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