Russ Feingold: “I accept the premise of this basic provision in terms of updating the ability to get at computer hackers. That is an…”

“I accept the premise of this basic provision in terms of updating the ability to get at computer hackers. That is an update. We did not know what this was a few years ago. We did not know what risks it posed. Nobody opposes that very important part of this bill. But what the Senator claims is that the phrase 'contractual relationship' somehow makes sure that people are protected from being subject to this who really should not be subject to this; but it does it. I can think of at least three categories of people who do not come within the category of 'contractual relationship.' One is in the context employment. It is nice if you have a contract, but a lot of employees do not. They do not fall within the protection of a contractual relationship. The same goes for people who would go and use a computer at a library. They do not have a contractual relationship to protect them in this situation. And finally, as the Senator conceded here, in his last example, that certainly students, students at all our universities across the country, are not protected by that language.”