Property Analysis Wizard
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Friday, June 12, 2009
Thursday, June 11, 2009
When an alleged rape is streamed live
Johnathon Hock, 20, was indicted Monday and charged with two counts of sexual assault and one charge of voyeurism.
According to an earlier report by the Associated Press, the charges stem from an incident on February 26, when Hock allegedly sexually assaulted a woman whom he had been dating for two weeks.
Phoenix police said in their probable cause statement, reported on June 3 by KPHO TV, that Hock "set up a computer with a Webcam and sexually assaulted a woman he knew as she was passed out from drinking alcohol."
Analyzing the reports is a sobering and troubling exercise.
The Associated Press reported that Christopher Stone, co-owner and administrator of a site called StickyDrama.com, which follows certain Internet celebrities, recorded the livestreaming and immediately contacted the police as he knew that what was being broadcast was criminal.
The AP also reported that Steven Fruchter, the CEO of Stickam.com, the site that carried the livestream, said the site ended the broadcast as soon as it was notified of what was happening.
"When the violation was immediately found, the alleged perpetrator was banned and we have an open line of communication with the authorities to provide any data they require," the AP quoted him as saying.
However, the same AP report said that Phoenix police Detective James Holmes said police only learned of the alleged assault from the 20-year-old alleged victim.
KPHO TV said that she had told the police that she only learned of the livestream after she received texts from her friends. She then logged on to the site, where she said she found photos of the alleged incident.
Police told KPHO TV that they obtained the video, which was five minutes long, and heard Hock boast of how the alleged victim was passed out, which left him able to have sex with her without her knowledge.
StickyDrama.com reported a conversation with a Phoenix journalist who said that Hock was indicted on Monday. The site also posted a YouTube video in which a woman declares that Hock should not go to jail over what was, according to her, a "misunderstanding."
East Valley Tribune.com, a local Phoenix newspaper, said: "A viewer in Lafayette, La., called the Arizona Department of Public Safety to report the rape." It also quoted Parry Aftab, executive director of WiredSafety.org, an internet safety, help, and education resource, as saying: "It's the first livestream of an actual rape that I'm aware of."
However, perhaps what is beyond disturbing is that East Valley Tribune.com's June 3 report declared that images of the alleged victim could still be seen that day.
Amid all this distasteful confusion, one can only wonder about the alleged victim and the high supposition that copies of the livestream will always exist somewhere online.
And there is nothing she will ever be able to do about it.
Microsoft, Mississippi settle Windows suit
Microsoft and the state of Mississippi said Thursday that they have reached a settlement in a class-action suit over the pricing of Windows and Office. Under the terms of the deal, Microsoft will pay $40 million to the state and up to $60 million in vouchers to consumers, businesses, schools, and local governments.
The deal is similar to the many settlements that Microsoft struck with states in years past.
Those in Mississippi who purchased Microsoft products or computers containing Microsoft products between January 1, 1996, and Thursday will be eligible to receive a voucher of $12 or $5, depending on which products were purchased. The vouchers can be used toward the purchase of any software or hardware product.
Products eligible for the $12 vouchers include three older Windows versions--Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows ME. Among those that qualify for the $5 vouchers are Office (or components such as Word and Excel), MS-DOS, Windows 1.xx-3.xx Windows for Workgroups, Windows NT Workstation, Windows 2000 and Windows XP.
If not all the vouchers are claimed, Microsoft will pay up to an additional $8 million to the state.
"Microsoft is pleased to reach this resolution with the State of Mississippi and with our customers in Mississippi," said Steve Aeschbacher, Microsoft associate general counsel. "We look forward to working with the state on issues of mutual concern going forward."________________________________________________________________
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