Law 759, Computer Crimes Law
Syracuse University College of Law course for Spring 2010

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"Information is the oxygen of the modern age. It seeps through the walls topped by barbed wire, it wafts across the electrified borders." - 40th President of the United States

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Law 759
 Computer Crimes
Syracuse University College of Law
Visiting Assistant Professor William C. Snyder
Spring 2010

Course Description:

This three-credit course is organized around three questions:

1) What conduct involving a computer is prohibited by criminal law?

2) What legal rules govern the collection of digital evidence in criminal investigations?

3) What powers do state, national, and foreign governments have to investigate and prosecute computer crimes?

 More specifically, topics will include computer hacking, computer viruses,  encryption, online undercover operations, the Fourth Amendment in cyberspace, the law of Internet surveillance, laws governing access to e-mail, forum-shopping, jurisdiction, national security, and federal-state relations and international cooperation in the enforcement of computer crime laws.  Special attention will be paid to cyber terrorism.

In addition, the course uses these topics to examine how legal regimes respond to rapid technological and societal change.

One of the goals of the course is to acquire experience working with statutes and regulations, in addition to the more traditional appellate court opinions used in most law school courses.

No advanced knowledge of computers and the Internet is required or assumed.  This is primarily a lecture course and not a seminar.

Assignments:

Unless otherwise indicated, assigned pages are from Kerr, Orin, Computer Crime Law 2d Ed. (West, 2009).  Citations to statutes in parentheses immediately below the page assignments are citations to statutes you should read along with the assignment. The statutes are found in the statutory supplement reprinted as an Appendix, found in the casebook on pages 685-782.

Lesson

Topic

Assignment

1

1/19

Chapter 1. Introduction (page 1)

A. Overview of Computer Crime Law (1)

B. Comparing Physical Crimes and Computer Crimes (3)

Notes and Questions (4)

Chapter 2. Computer Misuse Crimes  (7)

A. Why Punish Computer Misuse?  (7)

Problem 1 (8)

Problem 2 (9)

Notes and Questions (10)

B. Property Crimes as a Response to Computer Misuse  (13)

United States v. Seidlitz (15)

Notes and Questions (18)

State v. McGraw  (19)

Notes and Questions (22)

 PowerPoint, here.  Audio file, here.

1-26

2

1/21

C. Unauthorized Access Statutes (26)

1. Introduction to Unauthorized Access Statutes  (26)

2. What Is ‘‘Access’’?  (31)

State v. Riley (33)

Notes and Questions (35)

3. What Is Authorization? The Case of Code–Based Restrictions (39)

United States v. Morris (42)

Notes and Questions (47)

 PowerPoint, here.  Audio file, here.

26-50

(18 U.S.C. §1030)

3

1/26

4. What Is Authorization? The Case of Contract–Based Restrictions (50)

United States v. Drew (50)

Notes and Questions (55)

5. What Is Authorization? The Case of Norms–Based Restrictions  (60)

United States v. Nosal (60)

Notes and Questions (64)

D. Computer Fraud Statutes  (70)

United States v. Czubinski  (72)

Notes and Questions (78)

 PowerPoint, here.  Audio file of Lesson 3, here.

50-79

(18 U.S.C. §1030(a)(4))

4

1/28

E. Computer Damage Statutes (79)

United States v. Middleton  (83)

Notes and Questions (88)

United States v. Carlson (96)

Notes and Questions (100)

United States v. Sablan  (102)

Notes and Questions (105)

 Audio file of Lesson 4, here

79-109

(18 U.S.C. §1030(a)(5))

5

2/4

Chapter 3. Traditional Crimes  (110)

A. Economic Crimes  (110)

1. Property Crimes (111)

People v. Johnson (111)

Notes and Questions (115)

United States v. Farraj  (116)

Notes and Questions (120)

2. The Economic Espionage Act (122)

United States v. Genovese (123)

Notes and Questions (126)

 Audio file of Lesson 5, here.

110-128

(18 U.S.C. §§1343, 1831, 1832, 1839, 2314,)

6

3. Identity Theft and Access Device Fraud (128)

United States v. Cabrera  (129)

Notes and Questions (133)

4. Copyright Law (135)

David Goldstone—Prosecuting Intellectual Property Crimes  (136)

Notes and Questions (138)

United States v. Moran  (141)

Notes and Questions (147)

United States v. Armstead (150)

Notes and Questions (156)

United States v. Shabazz (157)

Notes and Questions (159)

United States Department of Justice—Illegal ‘‘Warez’’ Organizations and Internet Piracy  (161)

Notes and Questions (164)

 

  • Chart on copyright statutes, here.

  • Audio file of Lesson 6, here.

 

128-165

(18 U.S.C. §§1028 & 1029; 18 U.S.C. §2319, 17 U.S.C. §506)

7

2/11/10

B. Crimes Against Persons (165)

1. Threats and Harassment (166)

United States v. Alkhabaz  (167)

Notes and Questions (173)

United States v. Carmichael (176)

Notes and Questions (183)

2. Invasion of Privacy Crimes  (185)

  • PowerPoint slides, here.

  • [Note, this lesson was not recorded.]

 

165-187

(18 U.S.C. §§875, 2261A, and skim 47 U.S.C. § 223)

8

2/16/10

C. Vice Crimes (187)

1. Internet Gambling (188)

Ronald J. Rychlak—Legal Problems With On–Line Gambling (188)

Notes and Questions (191)

United States v. Cohen  (192)

Notes and Questions (196)

2. Obscenity  (198)

Miller v. California (199)

Notes and Questions (204)

United States v. Extreme Associates, Inc.  (209)

Notes and Questions (212)

  •  PowerPoint slides from Lesson 8.

  • Audio file of Lesson 8, here.

 

187-215

(18 U.S.C. §1084; 31 U.S.C. §5363)

9

2/18

2/23/10

D. Child Exploitation Crimes  (215)

1. Child Pornography (215)

United States v. Shaffer (219)

Notes and Questions (222)

Barton v. State (225)

Notes and Questions (228)

Ashcroft v. Free Speech Coalition  (236)

Notes and Questions (241)

United States v. Marchand (244)

Notes and Questions (251)

 

  • In class handout on Congressional findings concerning child pornography.

  • 2nd handout from class.

  • PowerPoint slides used in class.

  • Audio file of Lecture 9.

 

215-253

(18 U.S.C. §§2252, 2252A, 2256)

10

3/2/10

2. Traveler Cases and Entrapment (253)

State v. Davies (255)

Notes and Questions (261)

 

253-264, plus handout

(18 U.S.C. § 2422, 2423)

11

3/4/10

Chapter 4. Sentencing  (265)

A. Are Computer Crimes Different? (265)

Neal Kumar Katyal—Criminal Law in Cyberspace (265)

Notes and Questions (267)

United States v. Lee (270)

Notes and Questions (276)

B. Sentencing in Child Pornography Cases (277)

Notes and Questions (283)

C. Sentencing in Computer Misuse Cases (284)

Notes and Questions (287)

D. Supervised Release and Probation Restrictions (289)

United States v. Paul (289)

United States v. Sofsky (294)

Notes and Questions (296)

  •  PowerPoint slides for Lecture 11.

  • Audio file for Lecture 11.

 

265-297

12

3/9/10

Chapter 5. The Fourth Amendment  (298)

A. The Requirement of Government Action  (299)

United States v. Jarrett (300)

Notes and Questions (306)

B. Defining Searches and Seizures  (307)

1. Searches (307)

United States v. David (309)

Notes and Questions (311)

2. Seizures  (319)

United States v. Gorshkov  (320)

Notes and Questions (321)

  •  PowerPoint slides for Lesson 12.

  • Audio file of Lesson 12.

 

298-323

13

3/11

C. Exceptions to the Warrant Requirement  (323)

1. Exigent Circumstances (323)

United States v. Trowbridge (324)

Notes and Questions (328)

2. Consent  (330)

United States v. Al–Marri  (330)

Notes and Questions (334)

United States v. Buckner (339)

Notes and Questions (341)

United States v. Andrus (344)

Notes and Questions (349)

  • Audio file of lecture, here.

  • PowerPoint slides, here.

 

323-352

14

3/23/10

3. Search Incident to Arrest  (352)

United States v. Murphy  (352)

Notes and Questions 354)

4. Border Searches (356)

United States v. Arnold (356)

Notes and Questions (360)

5. Government Workplace Searches (364)

Leventhal v. Knapek (366)

Notes and Questions (373)

 

352-374

15

3/25

D. Searching and Seizing Computers With a Warrant  (374)

1. Probable Cause and Particularity (376)

United States v. Adjani (377)

Notes and Questions (386)

2. The Physical Search Stage (394)

United States v. Hill (394)

Notes and Questions (399)

  •  Audio file of Lesson 15.

 

374-402

16

3/30

3. The Electronic Search Stage  (402)

United States v. Kearns (402)

Notes and Questions (407)

4. Encryption  (415)

In re Boucher (420)

Notes and Questions (424)

  •  Audio file of Lesson 16.

 

402-426

17

4/06

E. The Fourth Amendment and Computer Networks (426)

1. Analogies to Speech, Letters, and Telephone Calls  (428)

2. Non-content Information (436)

United States v. Forrester (437)

Notes and Questions (440)

3. Content Information (443)

Quon v. Arch Wireless Operating Co. (443)

Notes and Questions (447)

  •  Audio file of Lesson 17.

 

426-455

18

4/08

Chapter 6. Statutory Privacy Protections (456)

A. The Wiretap Act (461)

1. The Basic Structure 461)

O’Brien v. O’Brien (461)

Notes and Questions (464)

2. The Consent Exception (473)

Griggs–Ryan v. Smith (474)

Notes and Questions 477)

 

456-482

(18 U.S.C. § 2510, 2511, 2515)

19

4/13

3. The Provider Exception (482)

United States v. Auler (483)

Notes and Questions 487)

McClelland v. McGrath (489)

Notes and Questions 491)

4. The Computer Trespasser Exception (492)

United States Department of Justice— Field Guidance on New Authorities That Relate to Computer Crime and Electronic Evidence Enacted in the USA Patriot Act of 2001 (494)

Notes and Questions (495)

B. The Pen Register Statute (497)

In re Application of the United States of America (499)

Notes and Questions (505)

 

482-510

(18 U.S.C. § 2511(2); 18 U.S.C. §§3121 through §3127)

20
Special class, 1st of 2 on 4/15

 Conflict in Cyberspace: Neither War Nor Diehard IV
A Discussion with James Lewis of CSIS

James A. Lewis is a senior fellow at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and directs its Technology and Public Policy Program. His research involves innovation and economic change; Internet policy and cyber security; space programs; and intelligence reform.  Lewis has authored numerous publications since coming to CSIS, including Securing Cyberspace in the 44th Presidency; Building an Information Technology Industry in China; Waiting for Sputnik: Basic Research and Strategic Competition; Globalization and National Security; and Spectrum Management for the 21st Century.

Connect to video, here.

 

 12:00-1:30PM

220 Eggers Hall (Public Events Room)

21

4/15

and

22

4/16

Special

1:00 p.m.

 

C. The Stored Communications Act (510)

1. The Basic Structure (511)

Notes and Questions (517)

2. Compelled Disclosure Under § 2703 (523)

United States v. Kennedy (523)

Notes and Questions (527)

3. Voluntary Disclosure Under § 2702  (532)

Andersen Consulting LLP v. UOP (532)

Notes and Questions (534)

Jayne v. Sprint PCS (535)

Notes and Questions (537)

D. Problems (542)

Problem One (542)

Problem Two (543)

Problem Three (543)

  • PowerPoint slides for Lecture 21 on 4/15.

  • Audio file of Lecture 21, here.

  • PowerPoint slides for Lecture 22 on 4/16.

  • Audio file of Lecture 22 on 4/16, here.  Note that file is only 43 minutes long; the first part of class (review of last time and fumbling with lunch) was not recorded.

 

510-544

(18 U.S.C. §§2701, 2702, 2703, 2708, 2711)

23

4/20

Chapter 7. Jurisdiction (545)

A. Federal Power  545)

1. Constitutional Limits (546)

United States v. Jeronimo–Bautista (547)

Notes and Questions (552)

2. Substantive Statutory Limits (552)

United States v. Kammersell  (553)

Notes and Questions (555)

United States v. Lewis (557)

Notes and Questions (560)

3. Procedural Statutory Limits  (562)

  •  PowerPoint slides from Lecture 23.

  • Audio file of Lesson 23.

 

545-566

24
4/22

B. State Power (566)

1. Substantive Limits (566)

American Library Association v. Pataki (566)

Notes and Questions (574)

2. Procedural Limits (578)

State v. Reid  (579)

Notes and Questions (585)

State v. Signore  (585)

Notes and Questions (586)

  •  Audio file of Lesson 24.

 

566-589

25

4/27

C. International Computer Crimes  (590)

1. United States Substantive Law  (590)

United States v. Ivanov (590)

Notes and Questions (596)

2. United States Procedural Law (599)

United States v. Barona (599)

Notes and Questions (607)

3. Mutual Legal Assistance and International Treaties (615)

Preparation of Letters Rogatory  (615)

Notes and Questions (619)

United States v. Vilar (619)

Notes and Questions (622)

  •  PowerPoint slides from Lecture 25.

  • Audio file of Lesson 25.

 

590-623

 

Michael A. Sussmann—The Critical Challenges From International High–Tech and Computer–Related Crime at the Millennium (623)

Notes and Questions (631)

Council of Europe—Convention on Cybercrime  (632)

Notes and Questions (638)

4. Foreign Computer Crime Law (640)

Rex v. Bow Street Magistrates’ Court (641)

Notes and Questions (646)

 

623-647

26

4/29/10

Chapter 8. National Security  (648)

A. The Fourth Amendment  (649)

United States v. United States District Court (650)

Notes and Questions (658)

 

  • PowerPoint slides for Lecture 26.

 LAST CLASS OF TERM.

648-665

26

4/15/10

Guest Lecturer -- Symposium

 

27

B. The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act  665)

Notes and Questions (671)

 

665-675 plus handout

 

C. Use of FISA Evidence in Criminal Cases  (675)

United States v. Squillacote (676)

Notes and Questions (681)

 

675-684

 

Cyber Security

handout

28

5/4/10

Exam Review

Previous exams for review:

 

 

EXAM - May 18, 2010, 1:30 p.m.

 

 

 

 

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