« Measure Bloggers with EgoSurf | Main | links for 2006-01-10 »
According to this post from Jeff Jarvis, President Bush signed into law a prohibition on posting annoying Web messages or sending annoying e-mail messages without disclosing your true identity. No joke. So here's my question. Does this mean that hosting a blog that allows for people to comment anonymously is breaking the law?
Technorati Tags: Law
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/t/trackback/12807/4003322
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Anonymous Comments Are Now a Federal Offense:
» Uproar Over Annoy Legislation from devinreams.com
Everyone is going crazy over the new anti-annoying law. First off, people will read a quick excerpt and conclude that this legislation was intended soley for the purpose of getting rid of annoying anonymous comments online. As the origin... [Read More]
» 2 años de prisión por e-molestar from EsMiBloG
Al parecer y según esta noticia, en Estados Unidos será un delito federal enviar comentarios o emails ofensivos o molestos en internet sin revelar su verdadera identidad, y no es ningún delito menor al juzgar por las penas, que ll... [Read More]
» Anonymity and the Internet from Corante Web Hub
In Preventing Cyberstalking, contributor Randy Charles Morin speaks to a new law signed by President Bush last Thursday, which prohibits annoying online communication (e.g., comments, email messages, etc.) without disclosing one's true identity. Both R... [Read More]
» Anonymous Internet Harassment Federal Crime from The Language Artist: Business Blog Consulting
Internet harassment, the anonymous kind, is now a federal crime.
The Communications Act of 1934 criminalizes anonymous harassment by a telecommunications device. Congress recently amended the law to criminalize anonymous harassment via the Internet ... [Read More]
» Bush Bans Anonymous Annoyance from Information Narcosis
Bush just signed a law banning anonymous annoying posts.
Personally, I have no problem with my anonymous pet trolls. Their stupidity is amusing. [Read More]
» Anonymity, Identity, and the Internet from TECHNOSIGHT
When it comes to the recent amendment, regarding a change to make anonymity and online annoyance a federal crime, Im not sure why there is such a the big fuss.
My position, as articulated at the Corante Web Hub and in my comments throughout t... [Read More]
» Anonymous Comments Are Now a Federal Offense from Belfast Blogger
According to this post from Jeff Jarvis, President Bush signed into law a prohibition on posting annoying Web messages or sending annoying e-mail messages without disclosing your true identity. No joke. So heres my question. Does this mean that ... [Read More]
» Anonymous Comments Are Now a Federal Offense from Belfast Blogger
According to this post from Jeff Jarvis, President Bush signed into law a prohibition on posting annoying Web messages or sending annoying e-mail messages without disclosing your true identity. No joke. So heres my question. Does this mean that ... [Read More]
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.
The comments to this entry are closed.
Some clarification is offered by Concurring Opinions here: http://www.concurringopinions.com/archives/2006/01/annoy_someone_o.html
Posted by: Andrea Weckerle | Monday, January 09, 2006 at 10:06 PM
We won't know until someone sues...
Posted by: Devin Reams | Monday, January 09, 2006 at 10:21 PM
With all the comments and emails traveling the internet, then it would be impossible enforce this. Not to mention, it would be a complete waste of time and money.
Posted by: Tuesday | Monday, January 09, 2006 at 11:53 PM
That depends, right? This legislation does not outlaw anonymous comments. Rather, anonymous comments "with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten, or harass any person." And in the event that prosecution can occur by providing the forum for the second case (which would seem unlikely), just ensure that names are required.
Posted by: Ken Yarmosh | Tuesday, January 10, 2006 at 08:31 AM
This just proves how big of an idiot our President is. I think there are more important issues that need to be addressed. Not providing your real name in a blog comment or e-mail message can get you fined and "up to 2 years in prison" if convicted. Bush and his cronies can start wars, detain and torture individuals on a whim, and neglect Americans when disaster strikes and shit hits the fan. Way to keep America safe douche.
Posted by: Will | Tuesday, January 10, 2006 at 11:39 AM
More debunking:
http://volokh.com/posts/1136873535.shtml
[Orin Kerr, January 10, 2006 at 1:12am]
A Skeptical Look at "Create an E-annoyance, Go to Jail":
"Declan McCullagh has penned a column that is custom-designed to race around the blogosphere. ...
This is just the perfect blogosphere story, isn't it? It combines threats to bloggers with government incompetence and Big Brother, all wrapped up and tied togther with a little bow. Unsurprisingly, a lot of bloggers are taking the bait.
Skeptical readers will be shocked, shocked to know that the truth is quite different. ..."
Posted by: Seth Finkelstein | Tuesday, January 10, 2006 at 05:13 PM
What ever happend to free speech?
Posted by: Nick D | Tuesday, January 10, 2006 at 08:50 PM