Comments on: Boarding pass creator: Out of frying pan, into fire? http://www.homelandstupidity.us/2006/12/01/boarding-pass-creator-out-of-frying-pan-into-fire/ Protect yourself from government gaffes, bureaucratic blunders and incumbent incompetence Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:25:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: State of Homeland Stupidity - Homeland Stupidity http://www.homelandstupidity.us/2006/12/01/boarding-pass-creator-out-of-frying-pan-into-fire/#comment-12281 State of Homeland Stupidity - Homeland Stupidity Sun, 14 Jan 2007 08:40:39 +0000 http://www.homelandstupidity.us/2006/12/01/boarding-pass-creator-out-of-frying-pan-into-fire/#comment-12281 [...] As you may know, this site does not run on a typical web hosting service, subject to the whims of a hosting provider which tends to take down high traffic or controversial content if you wave papers with special words in their faces, or if they just feel like your site is using more than its fair share of resources. [...] [...] As you may know, this site does not run on a typical web hosting service, subject to the whims of a hosting provider which tends to take down high traffic or controversial content if you wave papers with special words in their faces, or if they just feel like your site is using more than its fair share of resources. [...]

]]> By: The news just keeps breaking - Homeland Stupidity http://www.homelandstupidity.us/2006/12/01/boarding-pass-creator-out-of-frying-pan-into-fire/#comment-12280 The news just keeps breaking - Homeland Stupidity Sun, 10 Dec 2006 09:07:55 +0000 http://www.homelandstupidity.us/2006/12/01/boarding-pass-creator-out-of-frying-pan-into-fire/#comment-12280 [...] Christopher Soghoian, who blew the whistle on a serious airport security problem which had been ignored for years by creating a Web site which generated fake boarding passes, is still under investigation by the Transportation Security Administration for allegedly violating federal airport regulations and faces “civil penalties of not more than $11,000 per violation,” according to the threatening letter the TSA sent him as a Christmas present. They have plenty of time to go after whistleblowers, but no time for improving airport security, it seems. [...] [...] Christopher Soghoian, who blew the whistle on a serious airport security problem which had been ignored for years by creating a Web site which generated fake boarding passes, is still under investigation by the Transportation Security Administration for allegedly violating federal airport regulations and faces “civil penalties of not more than $11,000 per violation,” according to the threatening letter the TSA sent him as a Christmas present. They have plenty of time to go after whistleblowers, but no time for improving airport security, it seems. [...]

]]> By: Irish http://www.homelandstupidity.us/2006/12/01/boarding-pass-creator-out-of-frying-pan-into-fire/#comment-12279 Irish Sat, 09 Dec 2006 18:11:39 +0000 http://www.homelandstupidity.us/2006/12/01/boarding-pass-creator-out-of-frying-pan-into-fire/#comment-12279 Be as hard on DreamHost as you would like - the shady dealings and unethical web sites they host from other customers; and their actions with this one does not make me feel any more warm & fuzzy with them. Be as hard on DreamHost as you would like – the shady dealings and unethical web sites they host from other customers; and their actions with this one does not make me feel any more warm & fuzzy with them.

]]> By: Michael Hampton http://www.homelandstupidity.us/2006/12/01/boarding-pass-creator-out-of-frying-pan-into-fire/#comment-12278 Michael Hampton Fri, 01 Dec 2006 19:12:15 +0000 http://www.homelandstupidity.us/2006/12/01/boarding-pass-creator-out-of-frying-pan-into-fire/#comment-12278 I'm just going to let that one go right on by... ;) I’m just going to let that one go right on by… ;)

]]> By: Ryan Singel http://www.homelandstupidity.us/2006/12/01/boarding-pass-creator-out-of-frying-pan-into-fire/#comment-12277 Ryan Singel Fri, 01 Dec 2006 18:58:22 +0000 http://www.homelandstupidity.us/2006/12/01/boarding-pass-creator-out-of-frying-pan-into-fire/#comment-12277 Michael, Thanks for the too kind words... As for whether its legal or not, it's not going to be decided in this case, but I wouldn't be surprised to see a lawsuit based on another set of facts. From what I've heard talking with lawyers, Soghoian's free speech case is just shaky enough that they'd rather pick a more clear cut example to contest, rather than risking bringing a case that could set bad precedent. Oh yeah, and all your readers should keep reading you... RS Michael, Thanks for the too kind words…

As for whether its legal or not, it’s not going to be decided in this case, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see a lawsuit based on another set of facts.

From what I’ve heard talking with lawyers, Soghoian’s free speech case is just shaky enough that they’d rather pick a more clear cut example to contest, rather than risking bringing a case that could set bad precedent.

Oh yeah, and all your readers should keep reading you…

RS

]]> By: Kevin Fields http://www.homelandstupidity.us/2006/12/01/boarding-pass-creator-out-of-frying-pan-into-fire/#comment-12275 Kevin Fields Fri, 01 Dec 2006 16:59:46 +0000 http://www.homelandstupidity.us/2006/12/01/boarding-pass-creator-out-of-frying-pan-into-fire/#comment-12275 Don't be too hard on DreamHost for deciding to go along with this. It was prudent action on their part based on the information they were given. I'm sure they don't get requests like this often. If they did, they would probably start to question it. Don’t be too hard on DreamHost for deciding to go along with this. It was prudent action on their part based on the information they were given. I’m sure they don’t get requests like this often. If they did, they would probably start to question it.

]]> By: BelchSpeak http://www.homelandstupidity.us/2006/12/01/boarding-pass-creator-out-of-frying-pan-into-fire/#comment-12276 BelchSpeak Fri, 01 Dec 2006 16:36:21 +0000 http://www.homelandstupidity.us/2006/12/01/boarding-pass-creator-out-of-frying-pan-into-fire/#comment-12276 Mike, Great analysis on this. I agree with Singel in that it was constitutionally questionable regarding the law enforcement letter to the hosting provider and the site shutdown without the warrant. It was nice for the hosting provider to provide such a personal letter to the customer too. And I have to agree with Kevin above too. Had this tool exposed the hosting provider to not only risk but liability for hosting it (had the tool been used to commit fraud which would get the hosting provider sued) then the hosting provider was right to disable the site. They have to protect their business and shareholders first. But I wonder if constitutionally, is a hosting provider a modern day equivalent to a book distributing company? I don't think so. Hosting providers choose which content they will allow to be displayed on their servers, such as porn. Some providers prohibit it and such prohibition has not been ruled unconstitutional. And if the government has a legitimate concern about something, isnt it easier to clear it all up with simple correspondence rather than drag everything through the courts first? The government has a right to express their opinion on matters too. Mike,
Great analysis on this. I agree with Singel in that it was constitutionally questionable regarding the law enforcement letter to the hosting provider and the site shutdown without the warrant.

It was nice for the hosting provider to provide such a personal letter to the customer too. And I have to agree with Kevin above too. Had this tool exposed the hosting provider to not only risk but liability for hosting it (had the tool been used to commit fraud which would get the hosting provider sued) then the hosting provider was right to disable the site. They have to protect their business and shareholders first.

But I wonder if constitutionally, is a hosting provider a modern day equivalent to a book distributing company? I don’t think so. Hosting providers choose which content they will allow to be displayed on their servers, such as porn. Some providers prohibit it and such prohibition has not been ruled unconstitutional.

And if the government has a legitimate concern about something, isnt it easier to clear it all up with simple correspondence rather than drag everything through the courts first? The government has a right to express their opinion on matters too.

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