William was raided for running a Tor exit node. Please help if you can.

Patrick W. Gilmore patrick at ianai.net
Thu Nov 29 16:45:18 UTC 2012


On Nov 29, 2012, at 11:17 , Barry Shein <bzs at world.std.com> wrote:

> Back in the early days of the public internet we didn't require any id
> to create an account, just that you found a way to pay us. We had
> anonymous accts some of whom dropped by personally to pay their bill,
> some said hello but I usually didn't know their names and that's how
> they wanted it, I'd answer "hello <ACCOUNT>", whatever their login was
> if I recognized them. Some mailed in something, a mail order, even
> currency tho that was rare but it did happen, or had someone else drop
> by to pay in cash (that is, no idea if they were local.)
> 
> LEO occasionally served a warrant for information, usually child porn
> biz (more than just accessing child porn, selling it) tho I don't
> remember any anonymous accts being involved.

"Mere conduit" defense.  (Please do not anyone mention "common carrier status" or the like, ISPs are _not_ common carriers.)


> I never expected to be held accountable for anyone's behavior unless I
> was knowingly involved somehow (just the usual caveat.) LEO never
> showed any particular interest in the fact that we were ok with
> anonymous accounts. If I was made aware of illegal activities we'd
> shut them off, didn't really happen much, maybe some credible
> "hacking" complaint on occasion.

How do you "shut off" a Tor "account"?


> It's funny, it's all illusion like show business. It's not hard to set
> up anonymous service, crap, just drop in at any wi-fi hotspot, many
> just ask you to click that you accept their T&Cs and you're on. Would
> they raid them, I was just using one at a major hospital this week
> that was just like that, if someone used that for child porn etc? But
> I guess stick your nose out and say you're specifically offering anon
> accts and watch out I guess.

Do you think if the police found out child pr0n was being served from a starbux they wouldn't confiscate the equipment from that store?

-- 
TTFN,
patrick





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