Hey!

On 02 Jul 2014, at 17:56, s7r <s...@sky-ip.org> wrote:

> Signed PGP part
> On 7/2/2014 2:54 PM, MacLemon wrote:
> The subject of this attracted my attention. Are we talking here about
> a clear law, written black on white which states that it is illegal to
> run Tor relays (or any kind of telecommunications proxy servers) and
> that you are responsible for your user's actions, even if you provide
> those services free of charge, therefor not required to collect any
> data about your users? Is it actually a specific law which was
> enforced here clearly stating that you cannot run Tor or open proxy
> servers?
No, absolutely NOT. Actually, the opposite is the reality. Austria has 
something commonly called the “Provider's Privilege” (non-legalese term) which 
states that a service provider is not liable for the data transported over said 
services. No matter if the service is a free or paid one.


There is no law that I have ever heard of that prohibits running a proxy server 
or a Tor node in general or in particular. Providing an online service in 
Austria is mostly regulated by the Telecommunications law, E-Commerce law and 
data-protection law.



German language Austrian Legalese background:
Austrian E-Commerce Law §15: Ausschluss der Verantwortlichkeit bei 
Zwischenspeicherungen http://j.mp/1iYdg4L

§ 15. Ein Diensteanbieter, der von einem Nutzer eingegebene Informationen in 
einem Kommunikationsnetz übermittelt, ist für eine automatische, zeitlich 
begrenzte Zwischenspeicherung, die nur der effizienteren Gestaltung der auf 
Abruf anderer Nutzer erfolgenden Informationsübermittlung dient, nicht 
verantwortlich, sofern er
        
        1. die Information nicht verändert,
        2. die Bedingungen für den Zugang zur Information beachtet,
        3. die Regeln für die Aktualisierung der Information, die in allgemein 
anerkannten und verwendeten Industriestandards festgelegt sind, beachtet,
        4. die zulässige Anwendung von Technologien zur Sammlung von Daten über 
die Nutzung der Information, die in allgemein anerkannten und verwendeten 
Industriestandards festgelegt sind, nicht beeinträchtigt und
        5. unverzüglich eine von ihm gespeicherte Information entfernt oder den 
Zugang zu ihr sperrt, sobald er tatsächliche Kenntnis davon erhalten hat, dass 
die Information am ursprünglichen Ausgangsort der Übertragung aus dem Netz 
entfernt oder der Zugang zu ihr gesperrt wurde oder dass ein Gericht oder eine 
Verwaltungsbehörde die Entfernung oder Sperre angeordnet hat.



IANAL Paraphrased:
==================
A service provider who transmits user-input over a communications-network is 
not liable for a automated, time restricted caching which only purpose is to 
more effectively provide information requested by a user given that:
        1. the information is not altered
        2. access requirements are honored
        3. commonly accepted rules and industry standards for updating are 
honored
        4. the lawful application of technology to collect data about the usage 
of information as defined in commonly accepted and applied industry standards 
is not harmed
        5. recorded information is immediately deleted or access to that 
recorded information is denied as soon as they are informed of the fact that 
the information has been deleted at it's point of origin, access has been 
denied or in case a court or regulatory-body(?) has ordered the blocking.



Austrian E-Commerce Law §3.1: http://j.mp/1iYdIQw
Begriffsdefinitionen: Diensteanbieter
1. Dienst der Informationsgesellschaft: ein in der Regel gegen Entgelt 
elektronisch im Fernabsatz auf individuellen Abruf des Empfängers 
bereitgestellter Dienst (§ 1 Abs. 1 Z 2 Notifikationsgesetz 1999), insbesondere 
der Online-Vertrieb von Waren und Dienstleistungen, 
Online-Informationsangebote, die Online-Werbung, elektronische Suchmaschinen 
und Datenabfragemöglichkeiten sowie Dienste, die Informationen über ein 
elektronisches Netz übermitteln, die den Zugang zu einem solchen vermitteln 
oder die Informationen eines Nutzers speichern;

IANAL paraphrased:
==================
Definition of Information-Service: A __commonly__ _paid-for_ provided service 
for individual use by the recipient, especially online-sales of goods and 
services, online information, onilne advertising, electronic search-engines and 
data-query as well as ___services that transport information over an electronic 
network or that provide access to such a network or that store a user's 
information__. (Emphasis mine)



> Or are we talking about just one decision from a judge who probably
> didn't do a proper reading and analysis before applying this decision?
> Or maybe the person charged with this was actually doing something
> illegal? Anyone has more details?
IANAL!

First instance courts in Austria have been traditionally problematic with 
highly technical cases since they usually lack technical expertise. Austria 
does not have case-law, so the danger of this becoming precedent should be 
rather low.

The latter is very likely the case and I hope to have better (first or second 
hand) information in the next few days. I won't speculate more until I have 
talked to a few people who have actual information.


> That is nonsense. Why not arrest the owners of a stainless steel blade
> factory, because some people stab other people with those blades.
Similarly ridiculous parallels have been drawn. Why not close the postal system 
and every parcel delivery service as well. :-)

Best regards
MacLemon
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