Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by makoz 1378 days ago
Really? If I execute a script that DDoS someone, presumably it should not be treated as "speech" as if it is a protected right. That's such a hilariously slippery slope since you can arguably do "anything" via executing code.
2 comments

Denial of service attacks are explicitly illegal under the National Infrastructure Protection Act (NIIPA). I don't think a defendant has ever successfully challenged that law on First Amendment grounds, so the basic legal issues appear to be settled.

Of course as a practical matter it can be difficult to prosecute DDoS attackers under that statute. Either they don't leave hard evidence, or they hide in countries which don't extradite.

Nah your example is more like performing a magic spell that prohibits others from speaking (DDoSing a public service site, as an example)