Pixelular Assault

[saavedra77]

Last weekend, hackers exploited a security hole in the Epilepsy Foundation's website to embed "hundreds of pictures and links to pages with rapidly flashing images" in the site's support forums. The hackers' surprise lightshows were enough to trigger severe migraines and near-seizures in some photosensitive and pattern-sensitive viewers. Wired magazine describes it as "possibly the first computer attack to inflict physical harm on the victims."

The offline metaphor that comes to mind is that scene in Kiss of Death where a giggling Richard Widmark pushes a wheelchair-bound woman down the stairs.

Comments

[saavedra77.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I hope they find them, too. If a victim or victims pressed charges, that could be another first: a prosecution for ... online assault?

[feyandstrange.livejournal.com]

Since there is a non-zero chance of seizures causing death, I'd run it up as either attempted murder or assault with deadly, and expect it to be knocked back to simple assault - but having made a damn point. Let's make this a nice solid precedent.