Computer History aka Tech Time Travelers

Hackers (roundtable) "Is Computer Hacking a Crime." first appeared in Harper's Magazine (March 1990: 45- 55, 57.)

Though the editors' introduction to the roundtable is informative, it does not tell enough.

Throughout the discussion, if the reader is aware 0f what has taken place following it, is a great concern for what Bruce Sterling refers to as the "hacker crackdown" (in his book 0f the same title) on the hackers.

A truncated version of the crackdown story goes like this: There was much concern shown by John Perry Harlow and hackers across the country about the number of federal crackdowns, and in December 1989 they were invited by Harper's Magazine to discuss the issue on the WELL. Such hackers (crackers?) as "Phiber Optik" and "Acid Phreak" made their appearance to discuss such questions as whether there is a "hacker ethic" and whether hacking is a crime.

Shortly thereafter, 0n January 24, 1990, the federal government and New York State police raided the homes of Phiber Optik, Acid Phreak, and another hacker. Optik (Mark Abene) was not charged in this raid until a year later and then only with a misdemeanor.

The raids escalated: March 1, 1991, has come to be known as the day of the "Steve Jackson Games" raid in Austin, Texas, and then, on May 7 through 9, came the "Operation Sundevil" raids all across the country.

These raids make up the hacker crackdown, in June of the same year, they led to the creation of the EFF by Barlow and Mitchell Kapor.