"In Depth: Lust on a Hard Disk" by Dave Walter

So much is being continually written about the fast and furious advances in computer technology that descriptive terms such as "smaller", "less expensive", and "in more homes than ever before", are practically cliches. To date, less has been written about the corresponding developments, including the increasing varied ways in which computers are being used - and abused - by their owners. But that is changing and some of the nations self-appointed arbiters of what-is-good-and-right-for-America are upset by what they see coming across computer screens - so upset that they are seeking to clamp controls on the use of computers in communications.

Particularly bothersome to law enforcement officials and some legislators is the use of computer bulletin board systems (BBSs) to exchange sexually oriented messages. BBSs offering material ranging from sexually suggestive to hard core in nature are flourishing nationwide. Even large consumer information networks - Compuserve and The Source - offer sexually oriented services for both gays and nongays.

CRUISING ELECTRONICALLY

To access a BBS, a computer owner needs only a modem, which connects the computer to the phone line and, in most cases, an access code and password. Once on line with the host computer, it is possible to read or leave messages or "chat" with others, all with anonymity guaranteed.

There are at least 50 gay BBS services, Compuserve, which has more than 270,000 subscribers, offers several forums for gays to communicate with each other. For example, messages can be placed on a public bulletin board. A recent check of the board found personals ranging from, "Warm, caring and down to earth gay white male seeks friendship/lover" to "Attractive 28-year-old white male is NOT looking for that special someone or candlelight dinners. JUST SEX." Typically, the person leaving the message leaves an identification number to which the correspondent can "mail" a private reply.

Far more popular is the live "CB simulator" on which gays can "talk" with other gays on their own Compuserve channel (#33). Messages are seen by all on the channel but those seeking privacy can break away for closed, 2-way, discussions. Participants almost always identify themselves by "handles" such as "LOVERLESS" and "hot, naked boy (24)"- and normally engage in friendly, spirited chatter that frequently is sexually suggestive; sexually explicit messages are not allowed. There are occasionally poignant messages as well: A teenager who is obviously just coming out lets on that channel 33 is his first contact with gay life; another person seeks someone to talk with, typing, "does anyone have aids, i do." Because the channel is open to all Compuserve subscribers, nongays occasionally pop on- sometimes on purpose. Messages such as, "DIE FAGGOTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!" are not uncommon.

The other large consumer service, The Source, offers a public bulletin board similar to that offered by Compuserve. It also provides a "Gay Switchboard" to which access is controlled by the gay "SYSOPS" (system operators). The ADVOCATE requested, but was not granted access to the service.

Messages from persons seeking sexual partners are common, even on Compuserve, although the more sexually more explicit messages are contained on smaller, gay BBSs to which access is usually more restricted, particularly to minors. Nonetheless, people for whom gay BBSs are not intended- including children- can log onto the gay systems with varying degrees of difficulty. In fact, law enforcement officials, politicians and the media are becoming increasingly savvy about what goes on in a gay BBS.

EXPOSING "DADDY"

Sid Balcom, a retired Army intelligence officer, who runs nine BBS services, including the gay oriented Switchboard Systems in Alexandria, VA., knows painfully well what the media can do after they get into a gay BBS. Balcom had left a message in the "in search of" section of his Kinky Kumputer system. The message said, in part "GWM, middle-aged. Looking for son of this Daddy. Daddy likes to cuddle his son, hug him, kiss him, and attend to his bodily needs." It went on to state explicitly the sex acts "Daddy" would like to engage in with the "son." And much to Balcom's surprise, all of this was reported on the air on TV station WRC in Washington D.C.

WRC investigative reporter Jack Cloherty gained access to the BBS by using an adult alias, and responded - said Balcom - with the following: "Daddy you sound like the kind of Daddy I've been looking for. I was introduced to a beautiful world by a warm cuddly Daddy. I need hot sex but I need it most with my Daddy. I'm 5'6", 135lb. student with smooth body and a great ass. How can we get together Daddy? Tell me what to do."

A series of exchanges followed, some of them quite steamy, with "Daddy" ultimately suggesting that the two meet at a doughnut shop. When Balcom appeared at the shop, "Danny boy" was no where to be found - although a WRC camera was there. Another meeting was setup at the same location. This time, reporter Cloherty and his camera person accosted a flustered Balcom who retreated. Reporter and camera followed.

Cloherty, in the resulting series that aired Feb. 24-25, essentially portrayed Balcom as a child molester; he played on the air the recording of a phone call that had taken place earlier between Balcom and a Texas radio reporter. Balcom was heard to say, "I've always had a fascination for kids. I have no problem with it. But there are a lot of people who think that having sex with a teenager is really far out, a bunch of sickos and so on."

Balcom, not surprisingly, has cried foul and said that he is considering suing NBC, the owner of WRC-TV. He told The ADVOCATE that he is not a child molester or a "boy lover." Regarding the telephone conversation in which he said he had a "fascination for kids," Balcom said he could not recall the conversation and said he noticed the conversation had been edited. He conceded that the father-in-search-of-son message was his but emphatically insisted that he was not in search of a minor. When "Danny Boy" responded to his message, Balcom said, it was "only natural" for him to write back because there was no reason to believe "Danny Boy" was underage.

Cloherty claimed in his reports that the Switchboard also contained, among other things, "entry after entry of adult men in search of young males." An ADVOCATE search of the BBS found several such messages. Said one: "I like younger men (30-40)..." Began another, "Prime Boy (over legal age) is sought..." No messages found that specifically referred to minors; Balcom said he will not allow such messages on his system. Cloherty did not return calls from The ADVOCATE.

Balcom said reaction to the WRC reports was mixed. Some of his subscribers expressed their intent to back him up. But the operator of his women's BBS resigned at the demand of her husband, Balcom noted, and few subscribers cancelled their accounts. On Balcom's telephone answering machine is the voice of a male caller saying, "You'd better not let me see you in public because I'm going to kill you, faggot."

DISGUST, OUTRAGE AND LEGISLATION

The Switchboard controversy will undoubtedly add ammunition to Sen. Paul Trible (R-Va.) and others who have launched a campaign against computer pornography and sexual exploitation of children. Trible is in the process of redrafting and narrowing the focus of a bill that would criminalize the transmission of advertising for child pornography or information about child molestation. The measure would also prohibit the interstate transmission of obscene material via computer; what constitutes "obscene" has been and would continue to be decided on a local basis.

At two hearings held last year, law enforcement officials testified about the existence of computer networks used exclusively by pedophiles to share information about children available for sex with adults. One witness remarked that such BBSs are usually secret and not usually accessible; another told of a case in which Compuserve was used to exchange information about children. Henry Hudson, Virginia Commonwealth's attorney for Arlington County and head of the US Attorney General's Commission on Pornography, claimed he found five BBSs catering to pedophiles in the D.C. area alone and that there are 500 children in the area who were their victims.

Those testifying in support of Trible's bill talked almost exclusively of the horror of sexual exploitation of children. But Trible has made it clear that the child sex aspect is not his only concern. "Likewise, the operation of so-called sex talk computer services is extremely dangerous." Trible said in introducing his bill last June. "The increasing use of computers means that more and more people will have access to these services. It also means that more and more children might try and take advantage of them."

TROUBLE FOR GAY BBSs?

Barry Lynn, legislative council of the American Civil Liberties Union, predicted that, if Trible's bill passes, the "sex talk" computer services will go out of business - and gay BBS services he added, will be especially hard hit. "Any new efforts to restrict so-called pornography often have disparate impacts on gay bookstores, gay films," he observed. "We're talking about a substantial number of people who think the missionary position between men and women is dirty enough to turn out the lights."

The ACLU opposes Trible's legislation on free speech grounds. Communication from computer screen to computer screen, Lynn asserted, is "quintessentially private" and should be protected by the First Amendment. He maintained that it is possible to craft a bill that would criminalize activity in which sex abuse of children occurs, without infringing upon the rights of BBS users.

Operators of computer networks said Trible's measure - at least as it was originally drafted - is plainly unworkable because it would hold the operators liable for illegal transmissions. "Trying to monitor that would be like trying to monitor every telephone conversation," said Artie Kohn, owner of the 200-member Backroom gay BBS in New York. "It would be a physical impossibility."

BUSINESS AS USUAL?

What ever happens to Trible's legislation, scrutiny of sexually related of sexual related BBSs will likely become more keen as illegal activities and activities that are 'not' illegal - the Balcom incident for example - are made public. Balcom, for one, said he will keep a more watchful eye over his BBSs, but he asserted that he has always made sure that his boards have operated within the law. He said he has safeguards in place for a year to keep minors off the sexually explicit sections of his board.

Kohn, like Balcom, requires subscribers to provide signed statements that they are over 18. But he said most gay BBSs are "pretty lax," requesting age information but requiring no verification. He noted that while their are messages from subscribers implying they enjoy sex with minors, he has not seen on his BBS a single message - out of 43,000 messages - that has involved the outright solicitation of sex from a child or the exchange of identifying information about children.

There is no indication that the threat posed by Trible's legislation or by increasing surveillance by law enforcement agencies is being perceived by systems operators as serious enough to cause them to alter the sexually explicit services they provide; the pornography is still there and as hot and heavy as every. In fact, predicted Kohn, gay BBSs will keep growing.

© 2005 LINQ Communications