Wednesday, April 23, 2003

Michigan Graduate Student Who Studies Computing Secrecy Fears Prosecution Under New Law By ANDREA L. FOSTER A Michigan graduate student who studies how to hide online messages and detect hacking -- a field known as steganography -- has moved his research to a Web server in the Netherlands out of fear that it may be illegal under a new Michigan law. The graduate student, Niels Provos, says he moved his research from a Web server at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor to a server in the Netherlands because he is concerned about a Michigan copyright-protection law, Public Act 672, which took effect last month. The act is one of several efforts in Michigan and other states to modify telecommunications and cable-security laws to prevent digital piracy. Mr. Provos, a German citizen who is a doctoral candidate in computer science at the university, says the act's wording is so broad that he fears he could be prosecuted under it. The law prohibits people from, among other things, developing devices that "conceal the existence or place of origin or destination of any telecommunications service." Mr. Provos has developed software to find concealed messages in image files, and has developed methods to prevent a message from being detected. He has also designed software that tries to detect hacking. "I'm a foreigner here, and I'm pleased to be here to complete my studies," says Mr. Provos. "I have to do everything to make sure I comply with the law." Visitors to his new Web site are not admitted unless they have answered No to a question asking whether they reside in the United States. He says the Michigan law should be nullified or modified so "computer-science research can be made accessible again." Jack Bernard, a lawyer for the university, says he is trying to find out what the law means and how it may affect steganographic research. "I see no reason to panic about this," he says. State Rep. James Koetje, a Republican from Kent County who pushed the Michigan law through the State Legislature, says he is considering modifying the law to make it clear that steganographers' research would not be illegal. "Certainly, the intent of the law is not to prohibit research," he says. Background article from The Chronicle: Library Groups Say Sweeping State Copyright Laws Could Stifle Teaching and Research (4/1/2003) Easy-to-print version E-mail this article

Education Department proposes overhaul of ERIC system, consolidating databases and cutting services Genentech sues Columbia U., seeking to block patent-infringement claims U. of Toledo is latest institution to announce cuts in men's sports Updates on billion-dollar campaigns at 22 universities Spring commencement speakers are announced by 17 colleges Michigan graduate student who studies computing secrecy fears prosecution under new law