[jelling]

How could we have an effective federal government if the execution of code is somehow exempt from their oversight? That would be a giant loophole.

Also, pretty certain the execution of a worm or other malicious software is likewise illegal, whether it be by the execution or the result.

[Vivtek]

This is analogous to saying it would be impossible to have an effective federal government if what people say is somehow exempt from their oversight. That would be a giant loophole.

Which, true, is in fact an argument often made.

Software execution itself is not the issue. Criminal intent is the issue.