TimC Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 Trolling someone online? Bill would slap you with jail time A new cyberbullying bill aims to punish those who intend to cause "emotional distress" online with fines, jail time, or both. The problem—as usual—is the vague language used in the bill, which leaves many critics concerned that it could be used to censor speech on the Internet. By Jacqui Cheng | Last updated May 10, 2009 10:43 PM CTText Size Print this article Leave a comment A recently introduced cyberbullying bill could land us all in jail—that is, if you have ever used an electronic medium to troll someone. HR 1966, the Megan Meier Cyberbullying Prevention Act, is named after the high-profile "MySpace suicide" victim Megan Meier. It's meant to prevent people from using the Internet to "coerce, intimidate, harass, or cause substantial emotional distress to a person." However, as with many bills of this nature, the murky language and vague standards leave much open to interpretation, which has caused critics to call it the Censorship Act instead. HR 1966 was introduced in April by US Representative Linda Sanchez (D-CA) and it's supported by 14 other members of Congress. According to the text, individuals who bully others via any electronic means could face fines, two years in prison, or both. This, of course, could include those nasty text messages you sent to your ex on Saturday night, the questionable e-mail you sent to your brother, or those forum posts you made in which you called for someone who liked the new Star Trek movie to jump off a building. The bill largely flew under the radar until fairly recently (thanks to NetworkWorld for the heads-up) but criticism has been building. The language in the bill is so vague, it could be interpreted to apply to practically any situation, including blog posts critical of public officials. UCLA Law Professor Eugene Volokh went into detail on his blog, suggesting that numerous everyday situations could render regular citizens felons if their behavior is considered "severe" enough. "I try to coerce a politician into voting a particular way, by repeatedly blogging (using a hostile tone) about what a hypocrite/campaign promise breaker/fool/etc. he would be if he voted the other way. I am transmitting in interstate commerce a communication with the intent to coerce using electronic means (a blog) 'to support severe, repeated, and hostile behavior'— unless, of course, my statements aren't seen as 'severe,' a term that is entirely undefined and unclear," Volokh wrote. Still, Sanchez insists that the bill isn't meant to dampen free speech online. "Congress has no interest in censoring speech and it will not do so if it passes this bill," Sanchez wrote on the Huffington Post. "Put simply, this legislation would be used as a tool for a judge and jury to determine whether there is significant evidence to prove that a person 'cyberbullied' another. That is: did they have the required intent, did they use electronic means of communication, and was the communication severe, hostile, and repeated. So—bloggers, emailers, texters, spiteful exes, and those who have blogged against this bill have no fear—your words are still protected under the same American values." Although Sanchez seems to think there's no possibility for abuse with this bill, we all know what the road to hell is paved with. Despite her reassurance that it won't be used to censor Internet communications, there's no way to predict how judges would interpret such a law. One thing we do know is that cyberbullying cases have picked up since Missouri passed its own law following Megan Meier's death—if HR 1966 makes it past the House Committee on the Judiciary and into the books, we could see a serious uptick in those types of cases. Why are all the crazies you people elect in California and Massachusetts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmarc117 Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 why are we such a weak ass species? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westvirginia Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 Hate is love. War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H8tank Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perchoutofwater Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 Anyone that supports this bill should be promptly voted out of office. I doubt it would stand up in court, but who knows we might see some threats of court stacking if a certain individual want to continue to piss on the law and draw parallels to FDR. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ursa Majoris Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 Anyone that supports this bill should be promptly voted out of office. I doubt it would stand up in court, but who knows we might see some threats of court stacking if a certain individual want to continue to piss on the law and draw parallels to FDR. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perchoutofwater Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 This might be your most informative post in weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ursa Majoris Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 This might be your most informative post in weeks. It certainly is yours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perchoutofwater Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 It certainly is yours. I'm not the one that no longer discusses issues, and continually deflects but what ever you need to tell yourself to make it through the day with the guilt I'm sure you must feel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cameltosis Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 Irish is going to have all you f'ers locked up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pope Flick Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 This might be your most informative post in weeks. Perch - most of your hatred towards FDR, should in fact be directed at LBJ if you would just think about it for a second. Also, wasn't there a similar bill floated 2-4 years ago (before this case)? I seem to recall spain making something of it at the time... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perchoutofwater Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 Perch - most of your hatred towards FDR, should in fact be directed at LBJ if you would just think about it for a second. Also, wasn't there a similar bill floated 2-4 years ago (before this case)? I seem to recall spain making something of it at the time... Pope, I dislike LBJ almost as much as I dislike FDR. However it was FDR's coercion of the Supreme Court that has allowed the federal government to become something it was never intended to be. FDR laid the ground work for what LBJ has done, and what unfortunately it appears as though Obama is going to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Irish Doggy Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 TimC, see what you've done? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Country Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 (edited) If this passes, I for one accept my new weenie overlord. Edited May 12, 2009 by Big Country Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtomicCEO Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 I'm not the one that no longer discusses issues Why won't anyone talk about the 50 whining pathetic issues you raise every day? I suspect that they can't keep up with your intellect and wit, sir. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushwacked Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 (edited) Anyone that supports this bill should be promptly voted out of office. That's what all the people who are moderate on social issues say. Edited May 13, 2009 by bushwacked Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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