[Vision2020] Beware, anonymous annoyers!

[Art Deco]

I doubt this portion of the law will pass 1st amendment scrutiny.

W.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ron Force" <rforce at moscow.com>
To: <vision2020 at moscow.com>
Sent: Monday, January 09, 2006 3:18 PM
Subject: [Vision2020] Beware, anonymous annoyers!


>
> 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."
>
> Declan McCullagh-
> "...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."
>
> Read the rest at:
> http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1009_22-6024695.html?tag=nl.e589
>
> **********************************************
> Ron Force          Moscow ID USA
> rforce at moscow.com
> **********************************************
>
>
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