ABA Journal - Law News Now

1st Circuit Court

Judge Sides With MIT Students, Lifts Gag Order in Transit Case

Posted Aug 19, 2008, 03:31 pm CDT
By Martha Neil

A federal anti-hacking law wasn't intended to prohibit the disclosure of public information about computer security flaws and hence doesn't prohibit three MIT students from discussing with fellow academics how they learned to circumvent the Boston transit fare system, as part of a class project.

That's what a federal judge in Boston held today, in a closely watched case, reports the Wall Street Journal (sub. req.).

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority had won an initial round, obtaining a 10-day gag order that prohibited the Massachusetts Institute of Technology students from presenting their findings at a conference in Las Vegas. However, another jurist, District Judge George O'Toole refused today to extend it for another five months, finding… Continue reading...

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