[Someone1234]

It is worth considering that we've gone through several moral panics about "hacking," particularly in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

That's why computer crime laws are so disproportionate (e.g. spray paint a physical sign get a $100 fine, vandalize a digital sign get five-ten years in prison). They were written when a bunch of ignorant lawmakers were freaking out about hackers turn off electricity or wiping out the stock market.

[crankylinuxuser]

Yep.

I've been shouted down at our work book club while reading Mitnicks memoir. I said that a good amount of early hacking was "e-trespass" and "e-vandalism". The non-e versions of those crimes are low grade misdemeanors.

Yet, it was a bunch of shitty laws that somehow elevate them to manslaughter and 2nd degree murder equalivalent.

[Avamander]

This might be also because most governments and police absolutely lack the knowledge to catch any cybercriminals or to even understand the crimes. The punishment isn't surprising to me if I take their fear into account.