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The House State Affairs Committee got hung up when Rep. Raul Labrador, R-Eagle, objected to a clause in a bill from Rep. Steve Hartgen, R-Twin Falls, that sought to outlaw Internet harassment, because it listed “MySpace, Facebook, Friendster, Twitter” along with personal blogs. Labrador asked if there was “a technical term or a term of art” that could be used, rather than listing commercial names. Hartgen responded with a stab: “Internet posting sites?” But as the committee moved along, Rep. Brent Crane, R-Nampa, jumped in, saying, “They’re called social networking sites”/Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise. More here.
Question: Hartgen, of course, is the former publisher of the Twin Falls Times-News. Do you consider his legislation targetting Internet harassment necessary? Or would it have a chilling effect on Internet freedom?
D.F. Oliveria is a columnist and blogger for The Spokesman-Review. Huckleberries Online was judged the best 2008 Idaho newspaper blog by the Idaho Press Club. And the best 2007 news blog in the Pacific Northwest by the Society for Professional Journalist. Print Huckleberries is a past winner of the Herb Caen Memorial Column contest by the National Association of Newspaper Columnists. The Readership Institute of Northwestern University cited this blog as a good example of online community journalism.
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Cabbage Boy on February 05 at 10:03 a.m.
Prosecute the laws that exist. I can’t stand it when law makers try to be hip by looking for new areas to insert more civil code.
Kage_Mann on February 05 at 10:25 a.m.
There was a case where a girl back east committed suicide,
because of some harassment on MySpace and it might be something to look at.I don’t like laws governing the internet,but it
might be needed someday.
Cabbage Boy on February 05 at 10:39 a.m.
Kage, didn’t that case result in a conviction already? Why do we need a new law when there are laws that cover harassment already?
Maybe take the old law, add a new clause, but as the civil code grows and grows, it only leaves more loopholes. Right Sis?
Kage_Mann on February 05 at 11:01 a.m.
CB, yes there was a conviction in that case and you make some good points.
Which, begs the question:Are the Federal laws sufficient concerning ‘internet harassment’ or Cyber bullying? Or do we need state laws to fully address the problem?
Kage_Mann on February 05 at 11:06 a.m.
I just picked this up off the web.
Are you aware that it is a federal crime to harass someone on the internet and not reveal your true identity?
In 2006, President Bush signed into law a prohibition on posting annoying Web messages or sending annoying e-mail messages without disclosing your true identity. Under federal law when you annoy someone on the Internet, you must disclose your identity.
Sisyphus on February 05 at 11:13 a.m.
I think he’s messing with the criminal code CB. Hartgen’s proposal is idiotic demonstrating that the proponent is way out of his depth. There are ample laws to deal with whatever problem he thinks he’s addressing. Harassment is already illegal regardless of where it occurs. And one would think a guy in the newspaper biz would have a passing knowledge of the first amendment.
Cabbage Boy on February 05 at 11:29 a.m.
Sis, civil, criminal, it is all legal mumbo jumbo to most of us…
Kage, with that revelation, I think you just broke the internet.
Perhaps a new signature line on most message boards should be,
“I am Herman and I am here to annoy you today.”
JamesBond on February 05 at 2:04 p.m.
Steve Hartgen is an idiot.