EFF GIF file recall notice: is EFF the new CERT?

Enclosed, a `GIF file recall' warning from EFF & S. Steele.

Ug. Blech. What the heck is EFF doing something like this? This strikes
me as promoting hysteria and paranoia over image content and BBS
operator liability. I hope Mr. T.C. May will have something eloquent to
say about how silly, useless, and damaging this is. Didn't anyone talk
to M. Godwin about this?! Is EFF the new CERT? Are we going to have new
periodic EFF Pornographic GIF warnings?

S. Steele, I think we deserve better. This gets a definite Cypherpunk
Razzberry award. (And that will probably be the *least* of the
criticism.) Whose idea was this?

This reminds me. There is a whole new class of urban legends that are
starting. Technology does not mean the eradication of urban legends, it
only seems to mean they are propagated faster. Did anyone hear the
rumor (now totally debunked) that California police were warning
motorists not to blink their lights, because it was a signal to gangs
to shoot in an `initation ceremony'? This flashed across the nation in
a few days due to well-meaning, but totally indiscriminating, public
who transmitted it via email and fax machines. Didn't anyone stop to
just say `uh, waitaminit!'

They think *we* (cypherpunks) are paranoid, and easily subscribe to
conspiracy theories. Hah! The public at large is frighteningly
gullible, even *without* the media. In fact, as bad as the media is, it
actually has a dampening force to this kind of sheer hysteria.
`extraordinary public delusions and the madnesses of crowds'.

The trick is to try to get networks to allow urban myths to meet the
dampening force faster. Imagine if early in the spread someone
authoritative comes on and says `there is no substance to this, and we should know'.


------- Forwarded Message

Date: Sun, 3 Oct 1993 12:02:02 -0400
From: farber@central.cis.upenn.edu (David Farber)
Subject: Warning re some gif files (from EFF News)


************************************************************
***VERY IMPORTANT***  Critical Files to Remove from Your BBS
************************************************************

EFF has learned that the following graphic image files have been the
subject of a recent federal indictment alleging receipt and possession of
child pornography and transportation of obscene materials through
interstate commerce.  ***EFF STRONGLY ADVISES ALL SYSOPS TO REMOVE THESE
FILES FROM THEIR ELECTRONIC BULLETIN BOARD SYSTEMS IMMEDIATELY IN ORDER TO
AVOID LEGAL REPERCUSSIONS.***  Please distribute this message widely and
quickly.

Alleged child pornography files:

PPO4@.GIF
FAMO3.GIF
CHERRYA.GIF
CHERRYB.GIF
CHERRYC.GIF
WC221501.GIF
LITSIS.GIF
MBON006.JPG
MBON007.JPG
DS-X-219.GIF
INOCNT.JPG
KID013.GIF

Alleged adult obscenity files:

ORGY6.ZIP (A DL FILE)
WC1C2332.GIF
BAMS-039.JPG
________________________________________
Shari Steele
Director of Legal Services
Electronic Frontier Foundation
1001 G Street, NW
Suite 950 East
Washington, DC  20001
202/347-5400 (voice), 202/393-5509 (fax)
ssteele@eff.org




------- End of Forwarded Message

L. Dettweiler writes:

> Ug. Blech. What the heck is EFF doing something like this? This strikes
> me as promoting hysteria and paranoia over image content and BBS
> operator liability. I hope Mr. T.C. May will have something eloquent to
> say about how silly, useless, and damaging this is. Didn't anyone talk
> to M. Godwin about this?! Is EFF the new CERT? Are we going to have new
> periodic EFF Pornographic GIF warnings?

No, I won't say it was silly, useless, or damaging.

EFF is just sending out some free legal advice, neither demanding
removal of these files nor threating SYSOPS in any way. The EFF didn't
make decided the files were obscene (actually, I'm not sure anybody
has...and of course my view, which may be L.D. was thinking of, is
that no files, no images can be called obscene).

I don't have to support the obscenity laws to realize that EFF is
doing SYSOPS a favor by notifying them that certain files are very
likey to be treated as obscene (and subjecting their boards to
seizure, a la several recent cases, including one near me).

Do I hear any volunteers to become a test case?


-Tim May


-- 
..........................................................................
Timothy C. May         | Crypto Anarchy: encryption, digital money,  
tcmay@netcom.com       | anonymous networks, digital pseudonyms, zero
408-688-5409           | knowledge, reputations, information markets, 
W.A.S.T.E.: Aptos, CA  | black markets, collapse of governments.
Higher Power: 2^756839 | Public Key: PGP and MailSafe available.
Note: I put time and money into writing this posting. I hope you enjoy it.