Day Posted April 4, 2012 Share Posted April 4, 2012 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. http://games.yahoo.com/blogs/plugged-in/arizona-bill-could-criminalize-internet-trolling-184547052.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-JW- Posted April 4, 2012 Share Posted April 4, 2012 ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uttoxram75 Posted April 4, 2012 Share Posted April 4, 2012 I've looked into this and Governor Jan Brewer has a big decision to make. Mind you, although she's getting on a bit I, for one, would smash her back doors in. ouch..........oooohh....stop it..................wher's yer warrant..........i want a lawyer...........oi, you can't do that to my comput............................ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cisse Posted April 5, 2012 Share Posted April 5, 2012 That kind of law would pretty much silence this forum. 'http://www.dcfcfans.co.uk/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/angry' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':angry:' /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cisse Posted April 5, 2012 Share Posted April 5, 2012 Imagine this law would go through in England. What would Boycie and Young Ram do with their time then ? 'http://www.dcfcfans.co.uk/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':P' /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boycie Posted April 5, 2012 Share Posted April 5, 2012 which state is it that is renowned for its bridges? there's loads of trolls in that state. they've missed a trick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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