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Can We Please Stop Arresting WiFi Users Using Open Networks?

by gonzo | August 22, 2007 at 07:01 pm

674 views | 12 Recommendations | 4 comments

You'd think the bobbies would have something better to do...

We've had a bunch of stories over the last few years of people getting arrested for using open WiFi access and we still can't understand what crime has actually been committed. Unfortunately, yet another person in the UK has now been arrested for using an open WiFi network, after police saw him sitting on a wall with a laptop and asked him what he was doing. Apparently, in the UK, they consider it a violation of a communications law and a computer misuse law, but neither makes much sense. If the guy isn't physically trespassing and the owner of the WiFi has it open, then what's the problem? You can't assume that the owner wanted it closed. If they did, they would have closed it.

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generaldecay

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 23:51 on August 22nd, 2007

You'd think the bobbies would have something better to do...

You're so right! It must have been a slow day on the beat.

ecaputo84

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 06:57 on August 23rd, 2007

gonzo, I like this story. It's good stuff. It is manifestly unjust to arrest someone who has no way of knowing if the WiFi connection is "legal" or not. As long as the person does no damage to the system, they should leave the person alone and go catch real criminals!

Tom van B

at 03:06 on August 23rd, 2007

gonzo, Sitting on a wall with a laptop is now getting the attention of the police. I can't believe to stuff I am reading lately.

Jordan Yerman

at 05:35 on August 23rd, 2007

I agree- I fail to see the crime here. As long as the laptop ranger isn't swiping data from within the network, then there's no harm done. When setting up a wireless router for the first time, the setup script for the device (every brand I've ever seen) asks the user if s/he wants to password-protect the new network... presuming users are sensible and not sending out sensitive info on an unencrypted network, the main risk is that everyone's porn downloads will move more slowly if too many people are using the network!