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12-01-2002, 04:52 PM
After a long, long day at work, and a few conversations with some AA community members for whom I have the utmost respect, I've decided to make this post.
First thing's first, and the first thing is I would like to apologize to the community. Having thought out the situation and my actions to their ends, my words were overly harsh and my actions uncalled for.
Second, I would like to address the legal aspect of my actions. The precedence for my claim of legality is Rowell vs. Cloud9 Communications, Inc. In this case, Mr. Rowell was disputing the cancellation of his ISP and web hosting services by Cloud9 for using the space to distribute "warez". Although this was a minor case, and he would later face and be convicted of federal charges, various internet privacy advocates took the opportunity to involve themselves in hopes of setting a precedence. Their claim was against a website which displayed the IP addresses of people who caused trouble on their forums. No clue why the site displayed them, I didn't look that far into it. Mr. Rowell was discovered when he mistakenly sent an incorrect PM to a person discussing illegal software. This person matched up the IP and traced it. With this information, he contacted Cloud9 and they in turn cancelled Mr. Rowell's services and contacted the FCC. Hence the case Mr. Rowell brought against Cloud9. The judge in that case, Judge Harrion, ruled that because Mr. Rowell connected to a website which provided no privacy assurances and not under the condition of anonymity, his IP became public information and access was not restricted. Mr. Rowell's council later appealed (he had already been sentenced to a federal penitentiary by the time his appeal was heard) on his behalf that anonymity on the Internet is implied. They lost their appeal. Therefore, legally, the owner or administrator of any web service to which a person connects has the right to do what he/she wishes with the IP address, as it becomes public information unless the web site specifically states privacy of information or the connecting person only connects under the condition of anonymity and this is specifically decided prior to connection. If anyone wants to reference this, go to your local public or university library (with a legal section) and look up Rowell vs. Cloud9 Communications, Inc. It is a civil case and was presided over by Judge Harrion.
As far as the ethics of what I did. They are indeed marginal, and open to the interpretation of the individual. At the time of my actions, I did not feel they were unethical, however in retrospect I deeply regret them. Although the people on that list inconvenienced me in some way, whether by ruining my game, the game for others, or crashing my server, wishing with malice against them and offering up their IPs to the masses for whatever purpose was unethical.
What have I done? I've already changed the URL (the page will still exist on a private URL, the list is shared b/w a group of servers, all registered with MOHadmin's Recommended Server list) and will not again make it public. I would like to make it clear that I am apologizing to the community, not the people on that list. I should not have done what I did.
I can only ask the forgiveness of the community, really. I have no great anything to offer. I can only offer my support and the support of my friends and clan members to the community. Again, I apologize to the community and I hope that you can forgive my actions.
Chairperson, Coastal Carolina Students for Ron Paul 2008
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