|
|
|
|
 HelloReturn to index of stories... |
Hello. I'm Allison McNair. Welcome to NH Outlook. |
| Preshow #1 Return to index of stories... |
In this program, online privacy and public safety. For one New Hampshire woman it was a matter of life and death. |
| Preshow #2 Return to index of stories... |
More children are online than ever before. We'll look at what's being done to make their web surfing experience a safe one. |
| Intro Internet Privacy Return to index of stories... |
How much information could someone find out about you, using the internet? The answer could be frightening. For one Nashua woman, access to her personal information allowed an obsessed stalker to track her down. |
| Internet Privacy Return to index of stories... |
-- track 20 year old Amy Boyer worked in an orthodontist's office. She lived at home with her parents in Nashua. On October 15th 1999 She was killed by a stalker. Amy's mom and stepfather - Helen and Tim Remsberg. - tape 2 2:17:38 SOT T: She was the All-American girl next door. Just a bright very intelligent, bubbly, fun person, like my wife would say, she would walk into any room and just lighten up that room. And people would instantly stop and look and just admire her for her smile and her attitude. her whole attitude about life was just a wonderful thing. -- sot this follows tape 2 - 2:17:38 Whenever she walked in the house she would always give a kiss and a hug I love you she never left the house or came into the house without doing that. If we had friends here or family or neighbors or whatever she would always go over and give them a hug you know just very caring, loving person. -- track Amy had gone to the same high school as her killer. They took just one class together. It's believed that the two barely even spoke to each other, if at all. Still, Liam Youens became obsessed with Amy. He found out where she worked through an internet information broker. And on one mid October day - when Amy had finished work, Liam approached her. He shot her - 11 times in the head before turning the gun on himself. -- Tim sot? -- When we were at the hospital and they told us Amy was gone and he was hanging on and I said not for long. You know he better not make it through this because if he does, he'll have to deal with me someday. That's the anger, that's the part that hurt. Then there is the reality of it all that if we had gotten him the help he needed, if we had listened to his cries for help, we wouldn't have been here. We wouldn't have been here. -3:03:58 -- track When Tim talks about Liam's cries for help, he's referring to the 21 year old's website - which at that time - anyone could access on the internet. Tim and Helen only found out about it after Amy was killed. As part of the investigation, police seized a computer from Liam's home and learned of the site. Tim had a friend "mirror," or download Liam's site before it was taken off the internet. There were pictures of Amy, pictures of Liam's gun collection, and details of Liam's obsession with Amy. -- read from website - maybe from his log Liam wrote: "I don't love he anymore I wish I did but I do not. I wish I could have killed her in High School." He also wrote: "I imagined what it would be like to know where she worked, a wonderful feeling a "non-reality" thing like having a gun in Algebra class to shoot her. Docusearch pulled through it's like a dream." -- track Docusearch is a Florida company known as an "information broker." For a fee, the company provided Liam with Amy's social security number. -- sot atty gottesman 1:05:36 The companies that are in this business such as Docusearch normally have a link that connects them to a large database operations and they can, with the stroke of a computer key, dial into the computer and get that info on something called a credit header and when that info is given about a person's credit, any of us who have credit and ther is such a thing on almost anyone who gets credit, there is certain info there, one of those things is a social security number. -- butt bite to later on in same sot Docusearch pays the information gatherer for that information and charges people like Liam Youens for that information. -- track Atty David Gottesman represents the Remsbergs. They have gone to federal court to sue Docusearch for releasing Amy's social security number. They're also suing because Liam Youens went back to Docusearch a second time and paid the company to find out where Amy worked. -- sot After 103:24 atty sot The court did not like the fact the way the information was developed through pretext. -- Pretext,-Atty Gottesman explains- is when a phone call is made to get information - but the caller misrepresents who he or she is and also misrepresents the reason for wanting the information. -- att sot In this case, the info that has been developed is that they first called Amy's home and spoke to Amy's mom, Helen, who was smart enough nor to give them any info, but I believe told them how to contact Amy over the telephone. Through that communication it is my understanding that they developed information about where Amy worked. Whether it was through a reverse phone number like caller id or because they pretexted the info directly from her. Either way it was a pretext operation and that was the one that was conducted by the private investigator in NY. -- The NY private investigator had been hired by Docusearch to obtain the information. And that Private Investigator is also named in the lawsuit. Before the federal court moved ahead on the case, it asked the New Hampshire Supreme Court for clarification on state law regarding privacy. In February, The Remsbergs won a partial victory. -- sot Atty They left it up to a jury to decide whether or not the use of a social security number in this way is offensive and how offensive it has to be before a jury awards damages, I think they've established a person's employment address is not something considered private. But I think most of all the court has established a course of behavior for people who just use the internet and invade peoples lives and make money and have nothing to answer for -- sot The search company who's the defendant in this case had every opportunity to search for who they are doing business with and they didn't take the opportunity to do that and that is something we are very unhappy about. They could have found out some other information about Liam Youens, other than his credit card was working. 1:30:08 -- track The case now goes back to the federal court. But already, the circumstances surrounding Amy's death have caused law enforcement officials to make changes in their procedures. Dover City Attorney George Wattendorf explains. -- sot george Watt we put person's name in just to see if anything comes up -- track What haunts the Remsbergs is that - while Amy was alive - they could have done such a search on HER name. If they had they would have discovered Liam's website. -- sot take after parenthesis 3:04:17 T: We didn't think of it then. We were eight letters away: Amy Boyer. You type those in there and hit go. And those sites would have come up and you know we didn't think of it either, but now that we have, now that its been brought to our attention, let's tell everybody that we can possibly reach that you should be doing what we didn't think to do. 3:04:39 H: Oh yeah she would have been fine if we put her name in there and saw this website, without a doubt we would have had her go to another state or leave until we could get to the bottom of this and find out more about this person. -- track The story of what happened to Amy is one of MANY recounted in Author Jayne Hitchcock's book Net Crimes and Misdemeanors. Jayne wrote the book after she was harrassed on the internet. It began with hundreds of email bombs or emails that flooded her email inbox, so it would shut down. Worse was the discovery that someone was posing as Jayne in hundreds of news groups. One of them was called "hot for love bites." The person claiming to be Jayne said she was researching a book and gave out Jayne's personal information. -- sot Jayne it listed our home number and home address and that's when we started getting phone calls and before it was more of a nuisance now it had gotten serious. .BUTT BITE Calls from men all over the place, and my husband worried if these people going to call, what's to stop somebody from coming to my door and he worked all day and couldn't be home with me all the time. -- track Eventually, four years later, Two people were arrested for posing as Jayne online. Jayne thinks they were motivated to begin their harassment campaign after she made a post on a writers' news group - asking people to contact her if they had any dealings with the couple's literary agency. She did this after several writers complained about the company's business dealings. Jayne was living in Maryland at the time. Her testimony about her experience resulted in the passage of the first email harassment state law in the country. Jayne's book offers a wealth of information on what personal information may be out there on the internet. -- 2:00 sot Jayne Most people don't realize that what's publicly available off line is now being put on line, if your in the white pages your listed on line, someonee can get your number abd do a reverse search, find out where you live, get a map to your house, info like if you've bought or sold property, photos of your house, do you really want to give criminals something to think about knowing exactly how many rooms you have how much you paid for it, here's what the front lock looks llike.etc.etc - Jayne's experience has resulted in a positive outcome - the publication of her book, as well as lectures to law enforcement agencies and other groups …But Amy Boyer was not so lucky. Her parents say they'll continue to tell Amy's story to raise awareness about safety and privacy issues on the internet. And they'll continue to remember Amy. -- SOT 3:12:19 You know sometimes it seems like it was just yesterday. Even though its been 3 and a half years now. You learn to live with it the longer time goes on but it doesn't you don't stop thinking of her. I mean I think of her all the time, I just think of the different things she used to say, different expressions…. |
| Docusearch Return to index of stories... |
We attempted to reach Docusearch by phone, but were unsuccessful. We did speak with the Attorney who represented Docusearch before the state supreme court. Attorney Andrew Schulman said,"The New Hampshire Supreme Court cleared up some issues that up to this point had been unresolved in an interesting and novel area of the law. " |
| Intro Discussion Return to index of stories... |
Joining me to talk more about internet privacy and what you need to know to protect yourself is Jayne Hitchcock, author of Net Crimes and Misdemeanors and internet security and technology reporter Brian McWilliams. Brian is a contributor to Salon-dot-com, Wired-dot-com and others. |
| Discussion Return to index of stories... |
Jayne, you caution people about public records being put on line.You've had a personal experience with that - What kind of info could be out there. How can a person find out.Can you asked to be removed from online info. What about email bombs - how do they work and can they be traced? Cyberstalking - who are the victims? Cyberstalking - Who are offenders? How does it start? What about online greeting cards? e newsletters? guest books? monitor interent connections at work? universities providing info about students wise/unwise? protecting passwords? What are cookies - how not accept them? How tell difference from spam or harrassment? Chat room discussions - if argument develops what should person do? What about shopping on line? Can you talk about identity theft? How easy is it for someone to assume your identity with info. gleaned off the internet - how protect ourselves? What resources are avilable to help people who may be targeted on line? Spam -- is it just junk email? Spam sent using your name? i wantspamwebsite how protect email address who blocks spam what about filters? Should we use secondary screen names What about false email addresses? Where can complain about spam? online auctions? shopping online? scambusters who are fraud victms? adoption fraud? |
| WHOA Return to index of stories... |
For more information on cyberstalking - you can go to the website for working to halt online abuse at www-haltabuse-org. |
| Intro Internet Return to index of stories... |
The number of children on the internet is growing exponentially. So, how can we keep them safe from potentially dangerous material online? Several measures have been taken by law enforcement and legislation - but experts say that parents hold the key to children's safety. Celene Ramadan has the story. |
| Internet Safety (kids) Return to index of stories... |
Begin with Nikky - Nat sound at the computer --- Nikky Raney - Shot of her hands typing, pans up to her face. Shot of her face pans back to her hands. We got our computer when I was eight years old and then my dad kind of taught me how to do it and we have classes at school that kind of teach us how to use the Internet. And then I learned from my friends. From behind shot of her head in foreground and computer screen in background. Tilts down to keyboard in background. Nikky Raney is twelve years old and already proficient in using the Internet. She is not alone as 65% of children her age are also online. Jim McLaughlin - "Well, for a young person the Internet is very attractive because your peers are using it. - Tilt up from gun. But, as Detective Jim McLaughlin knows, the Internet poses dangers that make protecting children a challenge. Just one wrong click of a mouse can send any well-intentioned user into a bad place. Celene - Have you ever found something inappropriate while you were looking for that stuff? Nikky - Yeah. Uber-tight shot of her eyes. Well, like some inappropriate stuff popped up on the screen and, like, I kept trying to exit out and my computer, like, froze and then I was like, "Ahh!" and I had to shut down my computer. This is a common scenario. In fact, according to government statistics, one out of every four children is exposed to explicit material online. But even more dangerous than what children are seeing online is who they are talking to in chat rooms. Jim - But, the other danger, of course, with people that are out there that are specifically looking for adolescents that are socially isolated that are apt to be manipulated and apt to be sexually exploited. That's were the danger comes." Kathleen Tucker - - With kids and teens out on the Internet socializing and interacting with other people - they need to know what boundaries are. They need to know what's appropriate and what's inappropriate. Nikky - Yeah, they tell us not to give out our last name, not to give out our phone numbers and all of our personal information." Because if you give out your personal information online, someone could know who you are and come. JIM - "Well, the problem with kids is that we can tell them 'Never give out your name, never give out your address' but kids will give out other information that will lead to their identification. In fact, offenders do the same thing. And what we do in law enforcement is as we talk to an offender over many different chats we collect little bits of information. An example would be a child tells me he is in Southwestern New Hampshire, he won't tell me where he's from. In another conversation he may tell me what his school colors are. So, I can match that up with what school he's from. And on and on we go collecting little bits of information, which leads to identification. So, a lot of times we tell kids not to release the obvious but, just through normal conversations, they get sloppy and release too much." The Child Online Protection Act of 1998 set some boundaries on the Internet to reduce children's access to harmful material online. But President Bush has gone an extra step into signing a bill that would create the Dot Kids Domain - an entire online "neighborhood" designed especially for kids. Kathleen - - "Well, right now they view the internet as kind of like the wild west - they can do anything that they want they have no responsibility. So, it's important to educate students to make them aware that there are roles responsibilities and consequences to their actions online. One of the things that DOT kids will do is to help provide and environment where they're not flooded with these types of visual images. Jim - "Well, first off, we have to have parents recognize the fact that using software is never going to replace good parenting. Parents have to be willing to know about technology and how to look at what their child is doing and to stay in touch with their child and recognize certain signs that things are not right. The Dot Kids domain is being created to serve as a safe haven for children 13 and under. However, this designation may be missing the group most at risk. Jim - "If you're looking at 'at risk' children, a lot of parents give a lot of thought to the younger children who are more apt to abide by parental guidelines of computer use. But the real danger is adolescents the 13, 14, 15 year olds that are out there developing some independence and rebelling against parental directions." The domain may also do away with features such as chat rooms and instant messaging. But, according to Nikky, that would make the Internet lose most of its appeal. Nikky - Because, like I go online so I can talk to people cause it's easier to talk to people online then at school, because if you're at school you're there to learn mostly and you're not like with people and talking to people all the time. But online, you can talk to people that you wouldn't normally talk to at school. Critics say that limiting young people's online experiences is not as effective as educating them to make the right decisions online. Education can start in the home, from parents. Jim - You know I tell parents if you bring a computer into the home and you don't have any knowledge and you can't adequately supervise your child's use of it. Jim - "Well, a parent can basically educate themselves by taking advantage of the courses that are offered by Internet service providers. There's a lot of online help available, or they can go to the local high schools or colleges in their area and find courses designed to educate parents about the use of the Internet and how to monitor their child's usage." Kathleen - So, just like we educated them on how to be safe in their physical environment, we need to educate them on how to be safe online." And it's those lessons that kids like Nikky are starting to learn. For New Hampshire Outlook, I'm Celene Ramadan. |
| Web Pointer Return to index of stories... |
For more information on our program, streaming video, links to our guests and interviews and to tell us what's on your mind in our discussion forum, visit our website at nhptv.org. |
| Tomorrow Return to index of stories... |
On the next New Hampshire Outlook - We begin our series of profiles of the Democrats who would be President. Wednesday: meet Senator John Edwards of North Carolina. |
| Goodnight Return to index of stories... |
That's it for this edition of our program. For all of us here at New Hampshire Public Television, I'm Ally McNair. Thanks for joining us. We'll see you next time on New Hampshire Outlook. |
| founders Return to index of stories... |
Thanks to our founding sponsors who have provided major funding for the production of New Hampshire Outlook: New Hampshire Charitable Foundation Public Service of New Hampshire Stratford Foundation |
| Tonight 10:00 Return to index of stories... |
Tonight on New Hampshire Outlook. Internet safety and privacy. Where can you find your name on the world wide web and what can you do to protect it. Join us tonight at 10:00 only on New Hampshire Outlook. |
| WEB PROMO Return to index of stories... |
Tonight on New Hampshire Outlook. We begin our series of profiles of the Democrats who would be President. Meet Senator John Edwards of North Carolina. Tonight at 10pm on New Hampshire Public Television. |
| key: Technology Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 5/27/03 22:00 HOST: Allison McNair Length: 26:46 minutes In this edition of New Hampshire Outlook, NHPTV's nightly news magazine, in this program, online privacy and public safety. For one New Hampshire woman it was a matter of life and death. And more children are online than ever before. We'll look at what's being done to make their web surfing experience a safe one. How much information could someone find out about you, using the internet? The answer could be frightening. For one Nashua woman, access to her personal information allowed an obsessed stalker to track her down. Joining us for a studio discussion about internet privacy and what you need to know to protect yourself is Jayne Hitchcock, author of Net Crimes and Misdemeanors and internet security and technology reporter Brian McWilliams. Brian is a contributor to Salon-dot-com, Wired-dot-com and others. The number of children on the internet is growing exponentially. So, how can we keep them safe from potentially dangerous material online? Several measures have been taken by law enforcement and legislation - but experts say that parents hold the key to children's safety. Celene Ramadan has the story. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Allison McNair, Jennifer Ellis, Celene Ramadan NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Tim Remsberg\Amy Boyer's stepfather, Helen Remsberg\Amy Boyer's mom, Attorney David Gottesman\Gottesman and Hollis, George Wattendorf\Dover City Attorney, Jayne Hitchcock\Author, Net Crimes and Misdemeanors, Brian McWilliams\Internet and Technology Reporter, Det. Jim McLaughlin\Keene PD, Nikky Raney\12 years old, Kathleen Tucker\isafe America |
| key: Crime / Legal Issues / Law Enforcement Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 5/27/03 22:00 HOST: Allison McNair Length: 26:46 minutes In this edition of New Hampshire Outlook, NHPTV's nightly news magazine, in this program, online privacy and public safety. For one New Hampshire woman it was a matter of life and death. And more children are online than ever before. We'll look at what's being done to make their web surfing experience a safe one. How much information could someone find out about you, using the internet? The answer could be frightening. For one Nashua woman, access to her personal information allowed an obsessed stalker to track her down. Joining us for a studio discussion about internet privacy and what you need to know to protect yourself is Jayne Hitchcock, author of Net Crimes and Misdemeanors and internet security and technology reporter Brian McWilliams. Brian is a contributor to Salon-dot-com, Wired-dot-com and others. The number of children on the internet is growing exponentially. So, how can we keep them safe from potentially dangerous material online? Several measures have been taken by law enforcement and legislation - but experts say that parents hold the key to children's safety. Celene Ramadan has the story. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Allison McNair, Jennifer Ellis, Celene Ramadan NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Tim Remsberg\Amy Boyer's stepfather, Helen Remsberg\Amy Boyer's mom, Attorney David Gottesman\Gottesman and Hollis, George Wattendorf\Dover City Attorney, Jayne Hitchcock\Author, Net Crimes and Misdemeanors, Brian McWilliams\Internet and Technology Reporter, Det. Jim McLaughlin\Keene PD, Nikky Raney\12 years old, Kathleen Tucker\isafe America |
| key: Consumer Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 5/27/03 22:00 HOST: Allison McNair Length: 26:46 minutes In this edition of New Hampshire Outlook, NHPTV's nightly news magazine, in this program, online privacy and public safety. For one New Hampshire woman it was a matter of life and death. And more children are online than ever before. We'll look at what's being done to make their web surfing experience a safe one. How much information could someone find out about you, using the internet? The answer could be frightening. For one Nashua woman, access to her personal information allowed an obsessed stalker to track her down. Joining us for a studio discussion about internet privacy and what you need to know to protect yourself is Jayne Hitchcock, author of Net Crimes and Misdemeanors and internet security and technology reporter Brian McWilliams. Brian is a contributor to Salon-dot-com, Wired-dot-com and others. The number of children on the internet is growing exponentially. So, how can we keep them safe from potentially dangerous material online? Several measures have been taken by law enforcement and legislation - but experts say that parents hold the key to children's safety. Celene Ramadan has the story. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Allison McNair, Jennifer Ellis, Celene Ramadan NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Tim Remsberg\Amy Boyer's stepfather, Helen Remsberg\Amy Boyer's mom, Attorney David Gottesman\Gottesman and Hollis, George Wattendorf\Dover City Attorney, Jayne Hitchcock\Author, Net Crimes and Misdemeanors, Brian McWilliams\Internet and Technology Reporter, Det. Jim McLaughlin\Keene PD, Nikky Raney\12 years old, Kathleen Tucker\isafe America |
| key: Youth Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 5/27/03 22:00 HOST: Allison McNair Length: 26:46 minutes In this edition of New Hampshire Outlook, NHPTV's nightly news magazine, in this program, online privacy and public safety. For one New Hampshire woman it was a matter of life and death. And more children are online than ever before. We'll look at what's being done to make their web surfing experience a safe one. How much information could someone find out about you, using the internet? The answer could be frightening. For one Nashua woman, access to her personal information allowed an obsessed stalker to track her down. Joining us for a studio discussion about internet privacy and what you need to know to protect yourself is Jayne Hitchcock, author of Net Crimes and Misdemeanors and internet security and technology reporter Brian McWilliams. Brian is a contributor to Salon-dot-com, Wired-dot-com and others. The number of children on the internet is growing exponentially. So, how can we keep them safe from potentially dangerous material online? Several measures have been taken by law enforcement and legislation - but experts say that parents hold the key to children's safety. Celene Ramadan has the story. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Allison McNair, Jennifer Ellis, Celene Ramadan NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Tim Remsberg\Amy Boyer's stepfather, Helen Remsberg\Amy Boyer's mom, Attorney David Gottesman\Gottesman and Hollis, George Wattendorf\Dover City Attorney, Jayne Hitchcock\Author, Net Crimes and Misdemeanors, Brian McWilliams\Internet and Technology Reporter, Det. Jim McLaughlin\Keene PD, Nikky Raney\12 years old, Kathleen Tucker\isafe America |
| key: Women Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 5/27/03 22:00 HOST: Allison McNair Length: 26:46 minutes In this edition of New Hampshire Outlook, NHPTV's nightly news magazine, in this program, online privacy and public safety. For one New Hampshire woman it was a matter of life and death. And more children are online than ever before. We'll look at what's being done to make their web surfing experience a safe one. How much information could someone find out about you, using the internet? The answer could be frightening. For one Nashua woman, access to her personal information allowed an obsessed stalker to track her down. Joining us for a studio discussion about internet privacy and what you need to know to protect yourself is Jayne Hitchcock, author of Net Crimes and Misdemeanors and internet security and technology reporter Brian McWilliams. Brian is a contributor to Salon-dot-com, Wired-dot-com and others. The number of children on the internet is growing exponentially. So, how can we keep them safe from potentially dangerous material online? Several measures have been taken by law enforcement and legislation - but experts say that parents hold the key to children's safety. Celene Ramadan has the story. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Allison McNair, Jennifer Ellis, Celene Ramadan NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Tim Remsberg\Amy Boyer's stepfather, Helen Remsberg\Amy Boyer's mom, Attorney David Gottesman\Gottesman and Hollis, George Wattendorf\Dover City Attorney, Jayne Hitchcock\Author, Net Crimes and Misdemeanors, Brian McWilliams\Internet and Technology Reporter, Det. Jim McLaughlin\Keene PD, Nikky Raney\12 years old, Kathleen Tucker\isafe America |
| website Return to index of stories... |
For information on our program, and links to our guests and interviews, visit our web site at nhptv.org. You can see and hear streaming video of our broadcasts. We want to know what's on your mind. Join our discussion forum and tell us what you're thinking. If you have a story idea or comment on our program, click the feedback button. Or, call us at 800-639-2721. |