Cybercrime and Punishment: Sentencing Panel Discards Proxy Penalty

"The Washington-based U.S. Sentencing Commission was considering a change to federal sentencing guidelines that would have increased sentences by about 25 percent for people convicted of crimes in which proxies are used to hide the perpetrators' tracks.

"However, after digital-rights advocates complained that the proposed language was too broad, the commission struck the controversial language from the amendments it voted on Wednesday.

"The commission declined to comment, saying it hasn't yet submitted to Congress its formal reasons for the amendment language.

"Covering Tracks or Protecting Privacy?

"The Justice Department supported the proposed amendment as a way to hand down stiffer sentences for people who set up elaborate proxy networks -- sometimes in multiple countries -- to commit crimes and hide their identities."

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