http://games.yahoo.com/blogs/plugge...-criminalize-internet-trolling-184547052.html Arizona bill could criminalize Internet trolling Arizona marches to the beat of its own drummer. But if that drummer gets upset and starts hollering on the Internet, he might get tossed in the clink. After spending years targeting illegal aliens, the Grand Canyon State is turning its sights on obnoxious Internet users (commonly called 'trolls'). A new update to the state's telecommunications harassment bill could make the practice of harassing people online illegal. Arizona House Bill 2549 has already passed both of the state's legislative bodies and is currently sitting on the desk of Governor Jan Brewer. While there's a lot in there that doesn't concern trolling, here's the line that has people worried: It is unlawful for any person, with intent to terrify, intimidate, threaten, harass, annoy or offend, to use ANY ELECTRONIC OR DIGITAL DEVICE and use any obscene, lewd or profane language or suggest any lewd or lascivious act, or threaten to inflict physical harm to the person or property of any person. Violators could be charged with a Class 1 misdemeanor and face up to 6 months in jail. If electronic devices are used to stalk someone, the charges then become a Class 3 felony, with penalties ranging from a minimum sentence of two and a half years in jail for non-dangerous offenders with no prior record to 25 years. At the heart of the bill is an anti-bullying agenda. Cyber-bullying has been on the rise in recent years and has been in the news lately. A 2010 report in The New York Times found that one of out five middle-school students said they had been victims of cyberbullying. Despite its good intentions, the Arizona law is already being called "overly broad" by critics. By using vague terms like "annoy" and "offend," it could easily encompass Internet forums or even comments like the ones found at the end of this story. Free speech groups say they don't believe the law would ever stand up to court scrutiny if Gov. Brewer does, in fact, sign it. And many have pointed out the flaws in the bill to the governor herself. "Government may criminalize speech that rises to the level of harassment and many states have laws that do so, but this legislation takes a law meant to address irritating phone calls and applies it to communication on web sites, blogs, listserves and other Internet communication," Media Coalition wrote in a letter last week.
Cyber-bullying has been on the rise in recent years and has been in the news lately. ------------- I was checking around and "they" say kids with autism are more likely to be bullied, secondly - more cases of autism. Don't know, just sayin. ------------- Schools are mainstreaming disabled kids.Everybody is mixing it up.Too many girly guys,Every kid has an identity crisis in school.One week they're gay the next week they're straight.
anti bullying is a part of the leftist anti thought agenda. Regardless who passes this bill it is unconstitutional.
Liberals in the US of A are actually Fascists. They have combined government and private industry to screw over the little guys. It really is their dream to shut down discussion by anybody that disagrees with them.
Because unlike you rednecks in Appalachia the rest of the nation gets an education beyond the operation of heavy machinery. Don't be pissed about it, it is the hand you were dealt.
If offending someone by sending him email becomes illegal, then I will be able to prosecute every politician who sends me email. Bring it on.