On: Department of Justice announces new policy for charging cases under the CFAA

[mindcrime]

Not only that, but as merely a change in policy, as opposed to a change in the actual law, it's more or less alterable on a whim. A new administration, or even this administration could reverse this at the drop of a hat. So it's not exactly something to rely on to any tremendous degree.

[glitcher → mindcrime]

Exactly, and this point is even illustrated in the final words of the last sentence of the announcement:

"The new policy replaces an earlier policy that was issued in 2014, and takes effect immediately."

[throwaway742 → mindcrime]

Yep you could do something in good faith and so long as the statute of limitations aren't up you could still end up getting prosecuted years later.