Arizona bill could criminalize Internet trolling

RS12

Well-Known Member
Messages
32,707
Reaction score
30,396
Arizona marches to the beat of its own drummer. But if that drummer gets upset and starts hollering on the Internet, he might get tossed in the clink.

After spending years targeting illegal aliens, the Grand Canyon State is turning its sights on obnoxious Internet users (commonly called 'trolls'). A new update to the state's telecommunications harassment bill could make the practice of harassing people online illegal.

Arizona House Bill 2549 has already passed both of the state's legislative bodies and is currently sitting on the desk of Governor Jan Brewer. While there's a lot in there that doesn't concern trolling, here's the line that has people worried:

It is unlawful for any person, with intent to terrify, intimidate, threaten, harass, annoy or offend, to use ANY ELECTRONIC OR DIGITAL DEVICE and use any obscene, lewd or profane language or suggest any lewd or lascivious act, or threaten to inflict physical harm to the person or property of any person.

Violators could be charged with a Class 1 misdemeanor and face up to 6 months in jail. If electronic devices are used to stalk someone, the charges then become a Class 3 felony, with penalties ranging from a minimum sentence of two and a half years in jail for non-dangerous offenders with no prior record to 25 years.

http://games.yahoo.com/blogs/plugge...-criminalize-internet-trolling-184547052.html
 

RS12

Well-Known Member
Messages
32,707
Reaction score
30,396
Let the lawsuits commence. Are things that rosy in Arizona that this is a priority. This is up there with congressional hearings on steroids in sports IMO.
 

Rynie

Benched
Messages
4,609
Reaction score
3
Arizona is getting out of control with their laws. Wow.
 

Jenky

Well-Known Member
Messages
5,671
Reaction score
4,252
Does this mean Hos is able to instantly ban trolls now? :confused: :confused: :confused:
 

joseephuss

Well-Known Member
Messages
28,041
Reaction score
6,920
I don't see how you make something like this work logistically. If the troll is posting from outside of Arizona, then how do they go after them?

The parts about using "electronic devices are used to stalk someone" makes sense. I don't consider that trolling though. Something far different.
 

5Stars

Here comes the Sun...
Messages
37,998
Reaction score
17,217
CowboysZone LOYAL Fan
Jenky;4492365 said:
Does this mean Hos is able to instantly ban trolls now? :confused: :confused: :confused:

If only he would. :cool:

But, if he did, there would be a bunch of guys disappearing from around here...probably including me!


:(
 

BrAinPaiNt

Mike Smith aka Backwoods Sexy
Staff member
Messages
78,756
Reaction score
43,263
CowboysZone ULTIMATE Fan
<---Sitting back and taking notes of who is trolling in this thread...sending notes to Hostile.

We have an agreement that I can ban them on this forum but he can have them shipped to Arizona and he gets to ban them to jail.

:p: ;)
 

Phoenix

Well-Known Member
Messages
6,814
Reaction score
1,419
BrAinPaiNt;4492917 said:
<---Sitting back and taking notes of who is trolling in this thread...sending notes to Hostile.

We have an agreement that I can ban them on this forum but he can have them shipped to Arizona and he gets to ban them to jail.

:p: ;)


ha ha ha :)

This whole thing sounds like something from that cartoon show, was it The Simpsons...? No that doesn't sound right, but I'm sure you guys will know...it was that "People who annoy you" on Wheel of Fortune takeoff, I think it was. Hilarious :D
 

BrAinPaiNt

Mike Smith aka Backwoods Sexy
Staff member
Messages
78,756
Reaction score
43,263
CowboysZone ULTIMATE Fan
hipfake08;4492960 said:
I think they are going after Cyber Bullies.

I imagine it is really towards cyber stalkers and the wording just left it open to the point of causing unintended abuses of the law. Of course that is just speculation on my part.

Now cyber stalkers can also be considered cyber bullies in a sense but I think you probably understand the difference I mean.
 
Top