When Idiots make laws

http://www.wtvq.com/content/midatlantic/tvq/video.apx.-content-articles-TVQ-2008-03-05-0011.html

"Kentucky Representative Tim Couch filed a bill this week to make anonymous posting online illegal.

The bill would require anyone who contributes to a website to register their real name, address and e-mail address with that site.


 Their full name would be used anytime a comment is posted.

If the bill becomes law, the website operator would have to pay if someone was allowed to post anonymously on their site. The fine would be five-hundred dollars for a first offense and one-thousand dollars for each offense after that.

Representative Couch says he filed the bill in hopes of cutting down on online bullying. He says that has especially been a problem in his Eastern Kentucky district.

Action News 36 asked people what they thought about the bill.

 Some said they felt it was a violation of First Amendment rights. Others say it is a good tool toward eliminating online harassment.

Representative Couch says enforcing this bill if it became law would be a challenge."

- ya think?

An apropos comic:

MarineGunrock says...

True story: When submitting a claim for tech support I once gave my name as "Bob Barker." The TS guy called me Mr. Barker for the entire duration of the call.

The point of that story is that <suspend belief> if this bill ever gets enacted </suspend belief>
then according to my membership resistration with VideoSift, my name will be Mr. Cornelieus Happypants and I will live at 69 Boner Ln.

Farhad2000 says...

This is such a stupid bill. If they legalize it, then how do they enforce it? Enforcement would mean encroachments on personal freedoms and spying basically.

Internet bullying? Oh come on and grow up, online participation is chosen not enforced. Walk away, and go back to radio then or use NetNanny.

gorgonheap says...

Gosh that is a toughy. I mean really how do you control people online who can say anything they want? They certainly wouldn't act that way in real life. And when are they going to enact a bill for all the murders that get committed in online games too? I mean I had this guy in Battlefield 2 that killed me 5 times the other day. I think he should be brought to justice!

Doc_M says...

An easier solution would be to just hire more Government agents like me and Mycroft to patrol websites like this one where people might exercise their "rights" of free speech a little too often. Then we they can just scan IPs and break down some doors.

Send this Article to a Friend



Separate multiple emails with a comma (,); limit 5 recipients






Your email has been sent successfully!

Manage this Video in Your Playlists

New Blog Posts from All Members