Posted on 03/19/2017 6:26:45 PM PDT by Johnny Diamond
When the journalist Kurt Eichenwald opened an animated image sent to him on Twitter in December, the message You deserve a seizure for your posts appeared in capital letters along with a blinding strobe light. Mr. Eichenwald, who has epilepsy, immediately suffered a seizure.
On Friday, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said it had arrested John Rayne Rivello, 29, at his home in Salisbury, Md., and accused him of sending the electronic file. The agency charged Mr. Rivello with criminal cyberstalking with the intent to kill or cause bodily harm.
The charge could carry a prison sentence of up to 10 years, according to the United States district attorney in Dallas, who is prosecuting the case.
The unusual case has shown how online tools can be deployed as weapons capable of physical harm. The F.B.I. and the Dallas police led the investigation into Mr. Rivello, and the police said he sent the strobe light knowing that it was likely to lead Mr. Eichenwald, who has publicly discussed his epilepsy, into a seizure.
Steven Lieberman, Mr. Eichenwalds lawyer, has argued that the use of the strobe light in a GIF, or moving graphic, was akin to sending an explosive or poison in the mail.
This electronic message was no different than a bomb sent in the mail or anthrax sent in an envelope, said Mr. Lieberman, who is working on the case as a pro bono service. It triggers a physical effect.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Any good defense attorney is going to drive a truck through this case. A short study of the Tawana Brawley Affair will serve. The only question is whether Eichenwald will do time for perjury.
Well, now I know what The Brown Note is. It’s both fascinating and disgusting. I hope our military makes full use of it. The GOP too. The Brown Note should be played at the next Democrat Convention Acceptance Speech.
I have an extremely bright flashlight which has a strobe feature. I could definitely see it disorienting a person.
The first night I had it, I went outside and tried it on several objects several hundred yards away and it actually lit them up. A bit brighter than my headlights I would guess.
I don’t know anything about this person or story, but I think you’re right.
I once landed on a website with a bright, hot pink flashing image, and immediately went into a migraine with the ‘aura’ and everything. It lasted about twenty minutes. And I remember reading about seizures being set off in susceptible people experiencing ‘flashing’ or a strobe effect, when driving through stands of trees when the sun is bright. I think it’s called photosensitive epilepsy.
I have never watched an episode of South Park, just seen pieces here and there, but I watched about ten minutes of that one, and it did make me laugh!
You think a person with epilepsy chooses to have a seizure?
Heck, sometimes I wonder if I am susceptible...driving with the light coming through trees like that gets a bit uncomfortable for me. I sure don’t like it.
——message You deserve a seizure for your posts appeared in capital letters along with a blinding strobe light. Mr. Eichenwald, who has epilepsy, immediately suffered a seizure.——
What part of the quote you “deserve a seizure” do not people on this thread not understand....?
It’s immaterial if he actually caused a seizure, as some claim he didn’t have one.
The criminal intent was there....
No I don't think they had a seizure at all. It's a snooty, self-important liberal who couldn't win in the arena of ideas and made up a seizure to extract revenge.
If that’s what you mean then say that. If you have evidence to support it, even better.
Saying:
How about sending an addict a picture of a syringe and then he goes and shoots up? Or how about sending a picture of donut to a fatman who dies of diabetes when hes triggered by the donut?
is ignorant.
I think it probably makes everyone uncomfortable, but for people with a real susceptibility it might be dangerous.
Thank you. Google this “reporter” and watch the pizzagate info surface
“It has more to do with the specific frequency of the flashing. Brightness is not the major issue.”
The article stated that the strobe light was “blinding.”
Probably got the idea from the original (1971 version) of “Andromeda Strain”.
Why didnt the dummy shut his eyes? This is BS.
Exactly!
Steven Lieberman, Mr. Eichenwalds lawyer, has argued that the use of the strobe light in a GIF, or moving graphic, was akin to sending an explosive or poison in the mail.
No. A gif image is not like an explosive. If I close my eyes or look away, the gif can’t hurt me. That doesn’t work with explosives.
Hes also the journalist who got caught spending thousands of dollars to watch sexual videos of an underage teen boy.
I figured if the NYT was taking his side, he must be a lib or a pervert.
http://www.burned.org/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=1714&g2_serialNumber=4
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.