[Halgr]

http://news.com.com/Create+an+e-annoyance%2C+go+to+jail/2010-1028_3-6022491.html?part=rss&tag=6022491&subj=news

I don't know why the link in the post didn't work?

[LongsforReagan]

Less government, right? Right.....

[staytrue]

The only good part is this "who receives the communications"

So when we trash Hitlery, as long as it is not directly addressed to her, we should be OK.

[GaltMeister]

Does that Star Spangled Banner still wave
Ore' the land of the free
And the home of the perpetually offended

[Bob J]

Sounds like this might only apply if the "annoyance" is sent directly and personally to the recipient via email. I guess FReepmail would apply.

What department is the guv going to create to handle the millions of complaints that will flood in?

[proxy_user]

But in order to be sent to prison, a jury trial would be required. The offended person would have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he is annoyed.

[Mr. Brightside]

Let me guess.

Congress probably exempted themselves from this law, just like the "Do Not Call" law.

[atomicpossum]

I am simply SHOCKED to see Arlen Specter's name attached to something so dimwitted, particularly on something involving technology invented since the buggy whip. [/sarc]

Really, Specter is an ass, and shows as little understanding of the technological present day as, well, most of his fellow Congressmen. Seeing such ham-handed drivel from him is soooo common...

[Sir Gawain]

If President Bush truly believed in the principle of limited government (it is in his official bio)

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[MarkL]

DU Trolls heading off to jail?

Mark

[pabianice]

How wonderful! An end to spam! I can't wait to tell everyone aboard the Mother Ship...

[A. Pole]

Annoying someone via the Internet is now a federal crime. It's no joke. Last Thursday, President Bush signed into law a prohibition on posting annoying Web messages or sending annoying e-mail messages without disclosing your true identity. [...] This ridiculous prohibition, which would likely imperil much of Usenet, is buried in the so-called Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act. Criminal penalties include stiff fines and two years in prison.

"Violence Against Women"? What about the spam?

[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?

[wolfcreek]

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

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