This smells like clickbait. No charges have been filed, just a statement from a governor who has a history of bloviating about the press.
“Likely to be charged” is a huge stretch.
“Likely to be charged” is a huge stretch.
> They turned the case over to Cole County Prosecuting Attorney Locke Thompson on Monday, December 27. Governor Parson then held a press conference on Wednesday, December 29, where he cited a state statute related to computer tampering and repeatedly suggested Thompson should use it to prosecute Renaud and the paper.
As of the time of writing this comment, that was four days ago, and during the holidays. It certainly seems like charges will be brought unless Thompson chooses to side against the Governor and decline to pursue charges (I'm not sure what the political implications of that would be in either direction.) State statute is here [2]. IANAL, but this statute seems very broad. Especially sections 3, 4, and 5:
>A person commits the offense of tampering with computer data if he or she knowingly and without authorization or without reasonable grounds to believe that he has such authorization: [...] (3) Discloses or takes data, programs, or supporting documentation, residing or existing internal or external to a computer, computer system, or computer network; or (4) Discloses or takes a password, identifying code, personal identification number, or other confidential information about a computer system or network that is intended to or does control access to the computer system or network; (5) Accesses a computer, a computer system, or a computer network, and intentionally examines information about another person;
Like, yeah, factually the reporter did examine information about another person without authorization. This law sucks, but it is not a stretch to think they will prosecute the reporter.
[1] https://www.theverge.com/2021/12/31/22861188/missouri-govern...
[2] https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=569.095
My guess is the prosecutor will decline to pursue.
In between the grandstanding some of the politicians asked such odd questions, I think an introduction to digital safety should be a requisite course for all public servants along side antidiscrimination and inclusivity.
I wouldn't be surprised if there is someone already in jail who has been charged and convicted to a similar action.
Here is a Canadian example of a similar event.
https://edmontonjournal.com/news/politics/covid-19-records-w...
It’s news if he’s actually charged, it’s much less news if a frustrated governor blows off steam about it.
This is, so far, nothing more than the latter.
And this isn’t harassment yet. This is just a statement, nothing has actually happened.
If you want to see where this could go, check out the story of the data scientist who whistleblew on the Florida government hiding COVID deaths [0].
But none of that’s happened here, yet.
[0] https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/healthcare-information...
At this point it really is unlikely that the reporter will be charged.
The feds' involvement would be for prosecuting the reporter for CFAA violations. Missouri has its own computer intrusion legislation that would be the basis for charges from the state.