View Full Version : PC Repair In Texas Now Requires a PI License
KG4JYD
07-03-2008, 02:59 AM
In some shocking news out of Texas, PC repair will now require a PI License (http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,2324220,00.asp). Surely this stands to have a substantial impact on small repair shops around the state if upheld. Never fear, however, as the first counter-suit has already been filed (http://www.ij.org/first_amendment/tx_computer_repair/6_26_08pr.html)."
n2ize
07-03-2008, 03:13 AM
The law requires a PI license if you are doing investigative work such as computer forensics. I don't belive it applies to people doing standard repair work.
AE6IP
07-03-2008, 05:41 AM
According to the law passed in the 2007 Texas legislative session, the private investigator's license is required for repair technicians to analyze their customers' computer data. This analysis is common for business managers who wish to track their employees' computer usage or families who want to find out where their children or spouses have been online, said Matt Miller, executive director of the institute.
Way to go, Matt. You keep getting angry over nothing like that you're gonna give yourself an ulcer.
KC4RAN
07-03-2008, 06:18 AM
"Can you tell me if my son has downloaded any porn onto his computer? We're worried about him going to 'inappropriate' websites."
"No ma'am, I sorry we can't divulge that information. We don't have a Private Investigator's license, so we can't discuss any of our findings with you on any matters of this sort."
:confused:
KG4JYD
07-03-2008, 06:30 AM
Way to go, Matt. You keep getting angry over nothing like that you're gonna give yourself an ulcer.I didn't write it, it came from www.slashdot.org
AE6IP
07-03-2008, 01:45 PM
I didn't write it, it came from www.slashdot.org
Oh lord. Slashdot. Boy you do read the worst possible sources.
But I didn't say you wrote it. I said you were wasting time getting angry over a tempest in a tea pot.
AE6IP
07-03-2008, 01:46 PM
"Can you tell me if my son has downloaded any porn onto his computer? We're worried about him going to 'inappropriate' websites."
"No ma'am, I sorry we can't divulge that information. We don't have a Private Investigator's license, so we can't discuss any of our findings with you on any matters of this sort."
:confused:
and do you ask your mechanic if he can tell you whether the kids were having sex in the back seat of your car?
/. ?
Jeez, I haven't been to that hell hole in ages.
KD6NIG
07-03-2008, 02:10 PM
So that means that the state will make that much more money in licensing fees.
The question is, if you have a PI license, are you then authorized to whack out your car with lights? If so, I could see some ham operators becoming freelance PC repair techs :)
Land of the free....
BWAAAHAHAHAHAAAAA!:p:p
KG4JYD
07-03-2008, 02:57 PM
Jeez, I haven't been to that hell hole in ages.Texas, or SlashDot? :D :p
Texas, or SlashDot? :D :p
slashdot.
As for Texas, I'll be going to Austin soon to scope out a new datacenter.
K9STH
07-03-2008, 04:43 PM
JYD:
At least from your "bio" here on QRZ.com I see that you still have not updated your address with the FCC.
Glen, K9STH
JYD:
At least from your "bio" here on QRZ.com I see that you still have not updated your address with the FCC.
Glen, K9STH
Somehow I think that's on purpose. :p
KC4RAN
07-03-2008, 05:39 PM
and do you ask your mechanic if he can tell you whether the kids were having sex in the back seat of your car?
No, but I might ask if it looks like he's hit anything and broken something on the car. To use your analogy, if you find out that your car is leaking water and you take it to the shop, the mechanic would only be allowed to fix the radiator... not to tell you that there was damage on the front of the car that resulted in the problem you brought it in for.
Wording the law in this way is idiotic. Telling someone not to gather or report any information that might be used in an investigation basically keeps you from telling the customer *anything* except "it was broken, now it's fixed".
Anything else, literally anything, could possibly be used in an investigation... so I'm not taking the chance if I'm the repair tech.
Oh lord. Slashdot. Boy you do read the worst possible sources.
But I didn't say you wrote it. I said you were wasting time getting angry over a tempest in a tea pot.
You read slashdot? Now I understand all your meaningless and inaccurate postings.
K2WH
AE6IP
07-03-2008, 07:21 PM
No, but I might ask if it looks like he's hit anything and broken something on the car. To use your analogy, if you find out that your car is leaking water and you take it to the shop, the mechanic would only be allowed to fix the radiator... not to tell you that there was damage on the front of the car that resulted in the problem you brought it in for.
Um, no, that doesn't fit my analogy at all.
Wording the law in this way is idiotic. Telling someone not to gather or report any information that might be used in an investigation basically keeps you from telling the customer *anything* except "it was broken, now it's fixed".
That may be true. I haven't had time to track down the text of the law yet. Have a url?
There's a pretty well defined distinction between computer forensic analysis and computer repair. If the Texas law muddies the distinction it needs rewriting.
ab8yy
07-04-2008, 04:41 PM
I have also been looking for the exact text, but from what I have found, the words forensic are there, but also investigative are there and not together. This law is probably going to be for two purposes. One is to keep information away from a customer concerning others uses of the computer AND to force computer techs to turn in people with illegal stuff on their computer. Could this have been a test law for microsoft to find pirated software? Could be going to be used to force techs to turn in people with illegal porn on their computers?
Either way, I think if this law is for those purposes, it should be unconstitutional, which is what the current lawsuit against the state is about and it needs to be rewritten quickly to only include court cases. That would make a lot more sense, but unfortunately, lawmakers don't consider the other uses when they draft things.
Just another example of more and more government control over small businesses.
Steve
It sounds like they would get into trouble for getting rid of malware, recovering deleted files, uncorrupting operating systems, and other typical IT tasks. Very often the presence of this stuff is a result of porn being downloaded onto a system. Obviously it is not the IT person's job to pass judgment but they must be honest with the owner as to the source of the infection.
n2ize
07-04-2008, 11:31 PM
I have also been looking for the exact text, but from what I have found, the words forensic are there, but also investigative are there and not together. This law is probably going to be for two purposes. One is to keep information away from a customer concerning others uses of the computer AND to force computer techs to turn in people with illegal stuff on their computer. Could this have been a test law for microsoft to find pirated software? Could be going to be used to force techs to turn in people with illegal porn on their computers?
Either way, I think if this law is for those purposes, it should be unconstitutional, which is what the current lawsuit against the state is about and it needs to be rewritten quickly to only include court cases. That would make a lot more sense, but unfortunately, lawmakers don't consider the other uses when they draft things.
Just another example of more and more government control over small businesses.
Steve
Well, consider the fact that U-Tube was ordered to turn overr to Viacom all it's users records. So pretty soon Viacom will have your screen name, your ip addy, and a list of every single video that you have watched on U Tube.
God bless the land of the free. Do you have your papers in order comrade ? ;)