Re: ADV-NEWS, Create an e-annoyance, go to jail. When you annoy someone on the Internet, you must disclose your identity. Usenet trembles and shakes.

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http://news.com.com/Create+an+e-annoyance,+go+to+jail/2010-1028_3-6022491.html

Create an e-annoyance, go to jail
By Declan McCullagh

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."

It's illegal to annoy
A new federal law states that when you annoy someone on the Internet, you must
disclose your identity. Here's the relevant language.

"Whoever...utilizes any device or software that can be used to originate
telecommunications or other types of communications that are transmitted, in
whole or in part, by the Internet... without disclosing his identity and with
intent to annoy, abuse, threaten, or harass any person...who receives the
communications...shall be fined under title 18 or imprisoned not more than two
years, or both."


This is simply a travesty of justice, and an abomination to the first amendment.
.

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