Bloggers Could Be Jailed For Their Opinions

May 11, 2009 by Orlando
Filed under FHK WebWarriors, zTab

fhk-prison

(Updated)

Democrat Linda T. Sanchez and 14 others are proposing a House of Representatives bill (H. R. 1966), that could be interpreted to put bloggers and others in jail for voicing their opinions. Here is the relevant text:

Whoever transmits in interstate or foreign commerce any communication, with the intent to coerce, intimidate, harass, or cause substantial emotional distress to a person, using electronic means to support severe, repeated, and hostile behavior, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both….

["Communication"] means the electronic transmission, between or among points specified by the user, of information of the user’s choosing, without change in the form or content of the information as sent and received; …

["Electronic means"] means any equipment dependent on electrical power to access an information service, including email, instant messaging, blogs, websites, telephones, and text messages.

The measure, H.R. 1966, is labeled the Megan Meier Cyberbullying Prevention Act. It’s intention is to prevent the behavior that led to last year’s suicide of the 13-year-old Meier who was harassed on MySpace.com.

Despite the good intentions, the language can be interpreted by any person or lawyer to fine or jail bloggers if someone believes they are caused “emotional distress.” A blog like Ft. Hard Knox or others could be imprisonment under this loose interpretation. The problem with the bill is not its intent, but its vague wording that can be used by any liberal group who thinks they are being harassed, intimidated, or distressed. It is cause for concern that our First Amendment rights could be violated.

Also see: TechDirt – What is Cyberbullying Anyway?

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Tags: cyberbullying, cybersecurity, first amendment, free speech, hate speech, Liberalism/Socialism, Megan Meier

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Bloggers Could Be Jailed For Their Opinions | Ft. Hard Knox | Democrat = Socialist says:

May 13, 2009 at 8:14 pm

[...] Bloggers Could Be Jailed For Their Opinions | Ft. Hard Knox. [...]

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10 Responses to “Bloggers Could Be Jailed For Their Opinions”

Ron says:

May 11, 2009 at 9:43 am

The law of unintended consequences at work yet again.

Reply
MAS1916 says:

May 11, 2009 at 9:45 am

Hmmm… does this include ACORN? Of course not.

Still.. conservatives should be optimistic to the extent that Obama and the Democrats are starting to kill off any jobs recovery by allowing the deficit to expand so rapidly. Interest rates and inflation are now looking to increase in the next few months – somewhat sooner than was originally expected. And with no Republicans anywhere in sight, Obama won’t be able to blame this on anyone.

Bloggers are too many to be effectively monitored. Lefties can’t even keep control over illegal drug trafficking – always saying it is too hard to control. Attempts at blog control will yield the same results.

Conservatives should be optimistic though! For a list of ten reasons for optimism, you can hit:

http://firstconservative.com/blog/top-ten/conservative-resurgence

Reply
Hank says:

May 11, 2009 at 3:25 pm

You just hurt my feelings, you insensitive blogger!

I’m going to sue you!

Reply
- Buffoon says:
  
  May 13, 2009 at 8:16 pm
  
  Me too, I’m six shades of chaffed!
  
  Reply
Hammer says:

May 11, 2009 at 4:16 pm

Democrat Linda T. Sanchez? What is it with you people? You think that Obama is going to be King of Amerika for life when in reality 2012 will be his exit. I’m one pissed off Democrat that is not having buyer’s remorse but buyer’s breakdown. This is how long it will take 300 million or so Americans to understand that they have been taken for a ride.

There will also be no amnesty unless you’re looking for revolution from both sides of the isle.
The new incoming administration in 41 months will unwind all this B S and folks will be going to jail form this one. Will it be you?

Also, if you are able to implement something temporary, what’s good for the Goose is good for the gander or in other words Ms. Sanchez, what’s good for the corn tortilla is also good for the flour tortilla. You get my point……..

W. R. Hammer

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Jon Brooks says:

May 11, 2009 at 4:25 pm

Un-believe-abubble..as an old friend always said. This should more aptly be called the ..”Wow, now we have a chance to use this megan legislation to get at rush Limbaugh since he distresses us every single day for hour on end”.. bill.

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David Anfinrud, Bellevue, WA says:

May 11, 2009 at 5:37 pm

Well this could be used by Conservatives to attack Liberal websites. The hate speech there is very distressing. You even get a few people who use kill in thier comments. Could Daily KOS survive long if people start complaining about all the hate speech they spew in thier stories. They would be a prime target because it is so full of hate. I can think of several others that would be in deep trouble. If it is used against conservatives under the Constitution it can be used against everyone. So liberals think hard if you want to support a bill like this. IT is poison Pill like no other.

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Zack R says:

May 13, 2009 at 8:04 am

Yes– the name Linda Sanchez attached to almost anything can be seen as a warning sign. She is another in the endless line of “Remake America Now” radicals-in-office. BTW I’m down with MAS1916’s comment that we actually need things to get much worse so that Obama can be appropriately and righteously assigned blame and this stupified, brainwashed nation can awake to reality.

Reply
troy chambers says:

May 30, 2009 at 9:14 am

It wont be used aginst liberals, only conservatives, you have to remember who controls things. To the person that says Obama is gone in 2012 don’t bet on it. This guy is trying to break this country and make everyone desperate and hungry, when your desperate and hungry you’ll do anything to eat including giving up your rights and then you have a dictator. This has happened throughout history, the only hurdle still in there way is gun control they are trying to backdoor that through with this BS assult on amo. Don’t think it can’t happen here, ask yourself if six months ago you would have beleived that the federal govt would own GM and the president would have fired its CEO. People we are in trouble hide your guns there will be a revolution. Obama knows exactly what he’s doing. Time wake up every person you know. This is not BS wait until hyper inflation hits and the grocerie store shelvs will be empty what will you do I for one have been stocking food and silver and bullets. It’s coming and I eight or ten months ago would never have beleived this, and if anyone would have said what I’m saying I would have said they are wackjob conspiricy theorist. Protect yourselves.

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