Perspective: Create an e-annoyance, go to jail

Cnet News ^ | January 9, 2006 | Declan McCullagh

[jb6]

It's a matter of making sure there are plenty of new lawsuits to keep the Lawyer class in stocks and bonds.

[Stellar Dendrite]

ping

[moehoward]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1554663/posts

More action on this thread.

[bkepley]

Im annoyed by people who ack like "Mr. Know-it-all" on the internet.

LOL!

[bkepley]

Come on. You don't even give a clue as to state. And is it B. Kepley or B.K. Epley. Arguably anyone who doesn't post their DOB and SS number is anonymous. "bkepley hasn't created an about page."

You're right. I've been here a long time and just never thought about it.

[bkepley]

As long as you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear....but just incase we'll keep passing laws until you do.

It's like spitting on the sidewalk. You shouldn't be doing that anyway.

[jb6]

It's like spitting on the sidewalk. You shouldn't be doing that anyway.

And yet, what damage is caused? If it is public property and the property is not damaged, is a crime committed? These victimless crimes are a great way to control the population, just like hate crime laws.

[bkepley]

And yet, what damage is caused? If it is public property and the property is not damaged, is a crime committed? These victimless crimes are a great way to control the population, just like hate crime laws.

In the case of internet stalkers, there could be either victims or property loss or both. Bush probably suspects that if he can scare off just 10% of the pencil-necked, four-eyed, greasy little twerps it'll save the government billions.

[jb6]

Bush probably suspects that if he can scare off just 10% of the pencil-necked, four-eyed, greasy little twerps it'll save the government billions.

By diverting assets from the FBI and local authorities from such things as real cyber stalkings and child porn and by running endless government funded trials and counter trials. Yup, that'll help the bottom line, except it'll only be the lawyers' bottom line.

[bkepley]

By diverting assets from the FBI and local authorities from such things as real cyber stalkings and child porn

Probably the same guys.

[Reaganwuzthebest]

Create an e-annoyance, go to jail

The law appears way too broad and should be thrown out in the courts. You give politicians an inch they take a mile and that's what the USSC did with campaign finance reform, they opened the door to this kind frivolous legislation.

[StACase]

"Whoever...utilizes any device or software that can be used to originate telecommunications or other types of communications that are transmitted, in whole or in part, by the Internet... without disclosing his identity and with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten, or harass any person...who receives the communications...shall be fined under title 18 or imprisoned not more than two years, or both." Buried deep in the new law is Sec. 113, an innocuously titled bit called "Preventing Cyberstalking." It rewrites existing telephone harassment law to prohibit anyone from using the Internet "without disclosing his identity and with intent to annoy."

I tend to not believe anything a reporter writes until I have some sort of corroboration indicating that it is true.

I've tried to find this wording on all the government sites and I can't. Has anyone else actually found this?

[listenhillary]

"Whoever...utilizes any device or software that can be used to originate telecommunications or other types of communications that are transmitted, in whole or in part, by the Internet... without disclosing his identity and with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten, or harass any person...who receives the communications...shall be fined under title 18 or imprisoned not more than two years, or both."



The end of NYT unnamed sources pissing me off?

[mo]

"What department is the guv going to create to handle the millions of complaints that will flood in"....I suspect this is actually the only way to make a point would be to flood the feds daily with millions of complaints....unless they would regard that as annoying!!!!!

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Flooding your Congressman's email box with complains will result in your prosecution? It isn't done annonimously, which makes it that much easier for the gov't to prosecute you.

[wolfcreek]

Screw you! Internet Police! (how many years is that worth)

And Yes, my real name is Wolfcreek........just Wolfcreek!

[Reaganwuzthebest]

That's what it's ultimately going to be used for, to shut people up politically.