"(CNN) -- Computer security expert Chad Harrington regularly surfs Internet Relay Chat (IRC), one of the oldest chat technologies on the Web. The IRC networks have names like Dalnet and EFnet, but he agrees that another name works just as well: eBay for hackers. "

A call to bring the law into IRC. What I find interesting is the idea the jurisdictional problems will require federal law enforcement to get involved with crimes that are "petty." Usually the feds deal with major crime and the local cops deal with unruly kids. On the net, the FBI has to handle everything. That will probably require major changes over there. (So far, they seem to just ignore "petty" internet crime. A serious law enforcement effort concerning SMTP relay abuse is needed, but its too lame for an FBI thats designed to fight bank robbers.)

CNN.com - Experts: Chat rooms a haven for hackers - April 10, 2002