Create an e-annoyance, go to jail

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

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

or
http://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." "


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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




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