Fake Facebook profiles could be criminalized

Pennsylvania Independent ^ | 9/20/2012 | Melissa Daniels

[dfwgator]

Pretty soon it will be illegal to not be on FB.

[lightman]

Just one more point in the ever growing list of reasons not to use FB.

FB = An eighth commandment-free zone dominated by codependent narcissists and voyeurs.

[dfwgator]

Only gays can be bullied these days, don’cha know?

[dirtboy]

Uh, yes, I read the entire article, jerk.

[sten]

so... i can vote without any proof of id but if i create a facebook page using an online alias i go to jail?

yea... facebook isn’t today’s fbi file

[Petruchio]

All this proves is that the Government wants to use facebook to track the masses . . .

[Mr. Jeeves]

wish obnoxious people both Repubs and Dems would lay off what they don't understand on the Internet

The only reason the Internet and PC's created such a huge boom in the 80's and 90's was because government didn't understand what was happening and couldn't figure out how to regulate and tax it. This is why I don't hold out much hope for the prophesied GNR (genetics-nanotechnology-robotics) boom toward the end of this decade. US regulatory agencies now overwhelming in their scope and power, and are ready to pounce on any commercial trend that looks like it might become profitable.

[BreezyDog]

I have a fake Facebook account:

Friend me : BreezyDog Cocoa Angler

[randita]

PA Ping!

If you want on/off the PA Ping List, please freepmail me. Thanks!

[rbbeachkid]

I hate it when - R s act like - D s.

[Psalm 144]

The article refers to impersonating someone else. That is just an extension of existing laws. An alias, moniker or pen name is entirely different than presenting oneself as another person.

[Psalm 144]

Heh. Nice catch!

[Psalm 144]

Heh. Nice catch!

[Kay Ludlow]

I'd like to be proud that PA state government is republican, really I would, but they are making it soooo hard to be. Internet identity bill? Sheesh! How about rolling back state-wide building codes? Making us free to buy decongestants without signing for them at the pharmacy counter? Taking on the NEA? Slashing the spending at DCNR and DEP?

But no, they'd rather word on more RETRICTIONS on our freedom than RETURNING our freedom. It makes me wonder why I even vote...

[fatima]

My daughter went through this on facebook and her Bridal registry.We called the police.

[Alberta's Child]

My guess is that there would have to be some kind of crime “at the end of the day” in any of these cases. This is why the Stolen Valor Act was (rightfully) overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court, by the way. Impersonating someone just for the sake of impersonating them can’t be criminalized and can’t really even be subject to legal action in civil court, but if the impersonator somehow uses the act of impersonation to do harm to others or defraud them in any way, then it would be subject to criminal prosecution or civil liability under existing statutes related to fraud or other torts.

[Gen.Blather]

“The best way for the government to stop online bullying is for the government to stop bullying people online.”

I don’t understand online bullying. Turn off the PC; end of problem. (Alternatively, hit delete or block the bully.) Am I missing something?

[Mad Dawgg]

"Am I missing something?"

You are a 14 year old Girl. A click of girls who dislike you take a picture of you that is unflattering (the possibilities are endless on exactly what that would be.) Then its passed on Facebook and Twitter and media messages between phones. Next day at school everyone points and laughs and ridicules you for whatever social gaffe has been deemed offensive by the click.

You may think this a minor matter but in the social climate of teenagers this is akin to a restaurant being shutdown for cockroaches and rats.

Sad, but true.

[Emperor Palpatine]

Pennsylvania is incapable of fine-tuning anything.

I know...I live there.

[Emperor Palpatine]

PS...

Corbett is a fascist who thinks entrapment is a good way to enforce the law.