Interesting People mailing list archives
Create an e-annoyance, go to jail
From: David Farber <dave () farber net>
Date: Mon, 9 Jan 2006 12:48:36 -0500
Begin forwarded message: From: Gregory Hicks <ghicks () well com> Date: January 9, 2006 12:35:35 PM EST To: dave () farber net, ip () v2 listbox com Cc: ghicks () cadence com Subject: Create an e-annoyance, go to jail Reply-To: Gregory Hicks <ghicks () well com> http://tinyurl.com/9ljnb orhttp://news.com.com/Create+an+e-annoyance%2C+go+to+jail/ 2010-1028_3-6022491.html?part=rss&tag=6022491&subj=news
"Create an e-annoyance, go to jail Published: January 9, 2006, 4:00 AM PST 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. 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. "The use of the word 'annoy' is particularly problematic," says Marv Johnson, legislative counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union. "What's annoying to one person may not be annoying to someone else." " ------------------------------------------------------------------- I am perfectly capable of learning from my mistakes. I will surely learn a great deal today. "A democracy is a sheep and two wolves deciding on what to have for lunch. Freedom is a well armed sheep contesting the results of the decision." - Benjamin Franklin "The best we can hope for concerning the people at large is that they be properly armed." --Alexander Hamilton ------------------------------------- You are subscribed as lists-ip () insecure org To manage your subscription, go to http://v2.listbox.com/member/?listname=ip Archives at: http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/interesting-people/
Current thread:
- Create an e-annoyance, go to jail David Farber (Jan 09)