November 19, 1993: Don’t Post Bomb Instructions Online

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Bomb

1993 – The Ionizer – Otherwise known as Michael Elanky, recieved 28 months in prison for posting bomb-making instructions on his BBS. There have been other instances of this throughout history, but Elansky was a member of the International Information Retrieval Guild, a computer group very much concerned with freedom of speech and freedom of information. Like the group with which he was affiliated, Michael felt strongly about our First Amendment rights.Therefore, he posted on his BBS – called the Warehouse – instructions on making bombs.

Michael was arrested back in July 1993 and couldn’t post the $500,000 bail. Therefore he spent 4 months in jail. The instructions were originally written by “Deth Vegetable”.

This Day in Tech History podcast show notes for November 19

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