Sunday, March 5, 2000

USA - Naughton: The American dream turned sour (on sweet children) From all outside appearances, Patrick Naughton seemed the personification of the American dream. But it was a dream turned nightmare that found Naughton on the defendant's side of a federal courtroom in December 1999, waiting for a jury to decide his fate. Naughton, a top executive at Disney's Go Network venture, had been arrested on the pier in Santa Monica, California for allegedly crossing state lines with the intent to have sex with a 13-year-old girl. That the girl was not actually a minor but a federal agent posing as one, and that Naughton didn't actually have sex with her -- he simply approached her -- were details for the jury to ponder. As far as the authorities were concerned, Naughton had to answer to charges of travelling to solicit sex with a minor and of possessing child pornography. An unsympathetic verdict would mean that Naughton could spend up to 45 years in jail. [Quick Links Computercrime Cybercrime] 10:14 # G!

EU - Hotlines - proposals requested (European Commission) The call for proposals under the Action Plan for promoting safer use of the Internet for hotlines to deal with reports from Internet users relating to illegal content was published in OJ C92 1.4.1999 p 11. Proposals may be presented at any time. The next evaluation will consider proposals presented by 7 July 2000. The text of the Official Journal, technical background document, guide for proposers, application forms, and model contract are all available on the website. [Quick Links Computercrime Cybercrime] 10:13 # G!

Teen reportedly Hong Kong's first convicted Internet hacker Teen reportedly Hong Kong's first convicted Internet hacker. (Agence France Press) A Hong Kong teenager has been sentenced to six months in jail for hacking into the Internet in the first case of its kind in the territory. [Quick Links Computercrime Cybercrime] 10:13 # G!