Is it Ethical to “Steal” a WiFi Connection?
Is it ethical to steal a WiFi connection? Let’s begin by first defining what WiFi means. According to the WiFi Alliance, WiFi refers to:
A term developed by the Wi-Fi Alliance to describe wireless local area network (WLAN) products that are based on the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers’ (IEEE) 802.11 standards.
And according to Wikipedia, the main aims of WiFi are:
- make access to information easier
- ensure compatibility and co-existence of devices
- eliminate cabling and wiring
- eliminate switches, adapters, plugs, pins and connectors.
But I always thought that WiFi was a free service? Earlier this year, Ars Technica featured a post that talked about the ethics behind using WiFi connections illegally. Some might remember the incident in May of 2007 when a Michigan man was arrested for “piggybacking” or using someone’s WiFi connection without their permission. According to the news story, customers would regularly go into a local coffee shop that had WiFi and check their email, etc. while they enjoyed their favorite coffee beverage. The article goes on:
Sam Peterson II did the same thing. “I knew that the Union Street had WiFi,” he told 24 Hour News 8. “I just went down and checked my e-mail and didn’t see a problem with that.”
The only difference is is that he would drive up to the parking lot of the coffee shop on a daily basis and surf the net from his car. A police officer figured out what he was doing, and the gentleman ended up having to pay a $400 fine in addition to completing 40 hours of community service. Seems a little harsh for someone who didn’t appear to be doing anything other than what the other patrons were doing: surfing the Internet and checking email.
So, now comes the question, “Is it really a crime to ’steal’ a WiFi connection?” What’s the difference if you go into a coffee shop that has a WiFi connection versus parking in the parking lot? If I parked in the parking lot of the library and used their free wireless Internet connection, would I be placing myself at risk for being arrested as well?
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