CONDITIONS THAT HAVE GIVEN RISE TO COMPUTER ABUSE ARE IDENTIFIED, ALONG WITH FOUR TYPES OF COMPUTER ABUSE, FOUR ROLES COMPUTERS CAN PLAY IN COMPUTER ABUSE AS THE OBJECT, THE ENVIRONMENT, THE INSTRUMENT, OR THE SYMBOL OF AN ABUSE, AND DEFINITIONS THAT VARY FROM 'COMPUTER CRIME' TO LESS RESTRICTIVE APPELLATIONS. ESTIMATES OF THE SIZE OF THE PROBLEMS OF COMPUTER ABUSE ARE OFFERED, AS ARE PROFILES ON PERPETRATORS TYPICALLY FOUND TO BE INVOLVED IN COMPUTER ABUSE. IN THIS RESPECT, ATTENTION IS GIVEN TO THE HIGH POSITIONS OF TRUST THAT COMPUTER TECHNOLOGISTS OCCUPY AND THE BUILTIN WEAKNESSES OF COMPUTER SYSTEMS. FOLLOWING THIS, ANTICIPATED FRAUDS AND CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES THAT MIGHT DEVELOP IN THE ARENA OF COMPUTER ABUSE ARE SUGGESTED AS A BACKGROUND FOR A DISCUSSION ON LEGISLATION AND THE DIRECTIONS IT SHOULD TAKE. CONSIDERATIONS IS GIVEN TO PROBLEMS IN STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS, AND TO MISLEADING DEFINISTIONS IN THE PENDING SENATE BILL S1766 ON COMPUTER FRAUD. FINALLY, THE IMPACT OF ANY SUCH LEGISLATION IS EXPLORED, WITH EMPHASIS ON THE SENSITIVITY OF COMPUTER PERSONNELS' CIVIL AND CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS. CAUTION IS RECOMMENDED IN DEALING WITH SUCH A NEW FIELD. A SUMMARY OF THE ENSUING PANEL DISCUSSION IS INCLUDED. (MHP)