Posted on 01/09/2006 8:57:10 AM PST by MensRightsActivist
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.
In other words, it's OK to flame someone on a mailing list or in a blog as long as you do it under your real name. Thank Congress for small favors, I guess.
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.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.com.com ...
This is going to get complicated. Furthermore, this is a federal law which means prosecution is going to be by the federal government. I doubt any but the most egregious cases will be prosecuted.
Once I went and looked it up, and put in what I think is the correct language, it does not seem so ominous, nor does it say anything about anonymity, unless there is something else in the law.
Someone else wish to look at the new law in detail and chase down the anonymity part?
I'm off the hook on this one. Everyone knows my real name is Leapfrog, so I still get to stalk Hillary.
I just finished lunch and I want to keep it down.
Roger that.
So if I offend someone, does this mean I have to immediately freepmail them my name?
You too?
I would love too; but I'm tied up with getting my database mailings out. I will be tied up for about another week until I can do look ups or pings here at FR.
Sorry.
I don't really see how this law can be enforced.
The Secret Service got really annoyed with me the one week I spent stalking a Hildebeast.
I'll never forgove them for chasing me away from the site of my perfect firing position -- Next time I'll have to make sure my leasehold is paid up.
I agree difficult to enforce, and probably only the extremely heinous violators will be prosecuted.
Sorry, that is indeed a gross example.
An appropriate one, though- remember when trolls frequently posted that to random threads? Perhaps that would be illegal under the new law. I'm not sure who the offended party would be legally, though.
Class action, all the FReepers who saw it.
Screw You! My name is John Kerry!
Screw you! My name's Howard Dean!
I understand the point you were trying to make.
I'm up for that one!
Ok..well...many of you are in trouble. ;)
I guess A+Bert and Askel5 are going to get the death penalty eventually.
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