[WikiEN-l] Rod Liddle, Spectator, on his Wikipedia article

[Andrew Turvey]

My reading of the Act - although I don't think there have ever been any relevant case histories - is that section 3 offenses are committed the intent is any one of: 

a) impairing computer or program operation 
b) preventing access 
c) impairing the reliability of data 

I would imagine vandalism would fall pretty squarely under (c). 

Having looked into it further, I would agree it would have to go to summary trial which would mean a maximum 3 months in jail or £2,500 fine as the value of the damage is less than £2,000 (CJA88s38) 

---- Original Message ----- 
From: "Phil Nash" <pn007a2145 at blueyonder.co.uk> 
To: "English Wikipedia" <wikien-l at lists.wikimedia.org> 
Sent: Friday, 17 April, 2009 00:18:42 GMT +00:00 GMT Britain, Ireland, Portugal 
Subject: Re: [WikiEN-l] Rod Liddle, Spectator, on his Wikipedia article 

Andrew Turvey wrote: 
>> Glad to have an expert on hand! 
>> 
>> Personally I think this would be more a section 3 offense 
>> (unauthorized modification) rather than section 1 (unauthorized 
>> access). Could there be a case here? 

The problem is that the *unauthorised modification* under section 3 must 
be with "intent to degrade its operation".