CPSR SEEKS RECORDS ON ILLEGAL SEARCH: QUESTIONS SECRET SERVICE RAID

Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility (CPSR) filed suit in
federal court today seeking information on the role of the Secret Service
in the disruption of a meeting of computer users last November. The
incident, which occurred at the Pentagon City Mall in Arlington, Virginia,
has been described as an example of overzealous law enforcement
activities directed against so-called computer "hackers."

On November 6, 1992, a group of people affiliated with the computer
magazine "2600" were confronted by mall security personnel, local police
officers and several unidentified individuals. The group members were
ordered to identify themselves and to submit to searches of their personal
property. Their names were recorded by mall security personnel and some
of their property was confiscated. However, no charges were ever brought
against any of the individuals at the meeting.

The Secret Service has not formally acknowledged its role in the
November incident. However, a mall security official and the
Arlington County Police have said that Secret Service agents were
present and directed the activities of the mall security personnel.

"If this was a Secret Service operation, it raises serious
constitutional questions. It is unlawful for the government to disrupt a
meeting of people who are peaceably assembled and to seize their personal
property. We have filed this FOIA suit to determine the precise role of
the Secret Service
in this affair," said CPSR Washington Director Marc Rotenberg.

CPSR submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the
Secret Service several days after the incident. To date, the agency has
failed to respond. Under the law FOIA requesters may file suit in federal
court when an agency has not complied with the legally imposed time
limits.

CPSR, a national membership organization that protects civil
liberties for computer users, previously filed a FOIA suit against the
Secret Service after the agency was criticized for several poorly
conducted investigations of computer users. Documents disclosed to CPSR
from the Operation Sun Devil case revealed that the agency monitored
publicly accessible electronic "bulletin boards."

CPSR has recommended the development of guidelines for computer crime
investigations an called for a reassessment of the Secret Service's role
in the computer crime field.

For CPSR membership information, contact CPSR ¥ PO Box 717 ¥ Palo Alto, CA
94302-0717 (415) 322-3778 Email: cpsr@csli.standford.edu.

Copies of CPSR documents are available via FTP and Gopher from cpsr.org,
folder /cpsr