Santa Clara High Technology Law Journal Volume 12 | Issue 2 Article 5 January 1996 Controlling Cyberspace: Applying the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act to the Internet Jo-Ann M. Adams Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.law.scu.edu/chtlj Part of the Law Commons Recommended Citation Jo-Ann M. Adams, Controlling Cyberspace: Applying the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act to the Internet, 12 Santa Clara High Tech. L.J. 403 (1996). Available at: http://digitalcommons.law.scu.edu/chtlj/vol12/iss2/5 This Comment is brought to you for free and open access by the Journals at Santa Clara Law Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Santa Clara High Technology Law Journal by an authorized administrator of Santa Clara Law Digital Commons. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. COMMENTS CONTROLLING CYBERSPACE: APPLYING THE COMPUTER FRAUD AND ABUSE ACT TO THE INTERNET* Jo-Ann M. Adamst TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION .............................................. 404 I. THE INTERNET ...................................... 405 A. The Development of the Internet ................. 405 B. The Internet Today .............................. 406 C. Anarchy on the Internet ......................... 408 D. Crimes on the Internet .......................... 409 1. Computer crimes ............................ 409 2. Fraud ....................................... 411 3. Noncomputer Crime ......................... 412 E. Struggle within the Anarchy: Combatting Crime versus Individual Freedom ....................... 416 1. Combating Crime ........................... 416 2. Individual Freedom ......................... 417 F. The Need for Legislation ........................ 419 H-. THE COMPUTER FRAUD AND ABUSE ACT (18 U.S.C. § 1030) ............................................. 420 A. The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1984 ..... 420 B. Criticism of the 1984 Act ........................ 422 C. The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1986 ....