How many of the victim companies have filed complaints with the FBI? As I understand it, that would be step one.

habinero 2 hours ago | parent | next [-]

No, "pressing charges" is a myth. The feds can (and do) go after anyone they want, whenever they want.

"Want" being the critical word here.

	▲	criddell an hour ago \| parent [-]
		Not sure who you are quoting. I certainly didn't use the words "pressing charges"... If I detect a crime on my property and don't notify the police (ie file a complaint), the police aren't going to go after anybody because they don't even know something has happened. In this case you could say it's been in the news enough that there should be an investigation. Maybe there is, who knows? If the victim isn't going to cooperate, it's going to be a difficult investigation and prosecution and those resources may be better spent elsewhere.

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simoncion 2 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

That didn't seem to have precluded the prosecution of Swartz. I'm skeptical that any complaint actually needs to be filed. I'm pretty sure that the FBI can investigate and the DoJ can prosecute without one.

IMO an analogous situation would be where a police officer acts to prevent a in-progress burglary he has stumbled across even in the absence of a complaint by the owner of the property that's being burgled.

EDIT: Or -for the sticklers out there- another one would be prosecutors pursuing an attempted homicide case despite the fact that the intended victim declined to either press charges or even complain to authorities about the attempted slaying.

	▲	criddell an hour ago \| parent [-]
		In the Schwartz case, MIT's network security reported the "intrusion" to Cambridge Police and they brought in the US Secret Service who then contacted the DOJ. I'm not saying somebody has to press charges, that's not how it works, but the police have to be aware of the supposed crime.