Can You Go to Jail for Annoying Someone Online?

  • Thread starter TheStatutoryApe
  • Start date
In summary, this new law states that if you annoy someone on the Internet, you must disclose your identity.
  • #1
TheStatutoryApe
296
4
This is pretty crazy...
Annoying someone via the Internet is now a federal crime.

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... [more]
___________________________________________

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."

http://news.com.com/Create+an+e-ann...3-6022491.html?part=rss&tag=6022491&subj=news
I guess my GOOBF cards won't help with this huh?
 
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  • #2
new federal law states that when you annoy someone on the Internet, you must disclose your identity. Here's the relevant language
So that the person who's annoyed by you, can travel to your place and kill you or paying you back in a way s/he prefers! ( disclosing your address and phone number is necessary as well)
 
  • #3
I wonder how many years yomamma is going to do in prison :smile:
 
  • #4
He's under 18! Do you think it makes any change?
 
  • #5
mattmns said:
I wonder how many years yomamma is going to do in prison :smile:

Well he is under-age...

I guess i better get my butt over to a non-extradition country
 
  • #6
Maybe Evo or Greg can grant us amnesty.
 
  • #7
This thread annoys me. Mods, please delete it, so I don't have to resort to a lawsuit.

:biggrin:
 
  • #8
rachmaninoff said:
This thread annoys me. Mods, please delete it, so I don't have to resort to a lawsuit.
:biggrin:

You mean you don't want to call the police...
 
  • #9
I think its pretty funny that if no one in the media caught this... no one would be arrested on this. It's probably that someone wasn't thinking when they wrote the bill and someone caught it and is blowing it out of proportion to sell newspapers.
 
  • #10
Ahh yes I forgot he is under-age. However, if you look at the "How tall are you thread" you will notice that he is 6' or taller, so maybe we could pass him as an adult?
 
  • #11
The only time he really annoyed me, was that. Why a 13 year old boy should be taller than me?

can I call the police and ask them to arrest my jealousy? it usually annoys me!
 
  • #12
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.

Yahooooo! I can heckle you people with impunity! :-p
 
  • #13
Wohoo, I'm English, therefore immune! :biggrin:
I can be as annoying as usual!
 
  • #14
Mk is my real first name so I'm ok. How do you pronounce it?
 
  • #15
matthyaouw said:
Wohoo, I'm English, therefore immune! :biggrin:
I can be as annoying as usual!
Perfect! We can start snitching o:) .
 
  • #16
Tom Mattson said:
Yahooooo! I can heckle you people with impunity! :-p
:smile:

Unfortunately, this news is already making the circuit on internet forums, mostly by the trolls trying to see if they can threaten to use it (no Perennial, I'm not calling you a troll...I meant on the other forums I've seen people posting it). As it's written, it'll never hold up to challenge if anyone tries to use it. It seems to be part of an anti-spam or anti-cyber-stalking law, but the problem is that it requires demonstrating intent, and I don't think that's going to be very easy to prove or enforce.
 
  • #17
"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."
The intent is probably good, but inclusion of the word "annoy" along with the obviously unacceptable intentions behind "abuse, threaten, or harrass" seems ill advised. There's often a thin line between teasing someone and annoying them. I wonder what kind of "annoyance" prompted them to include this in the law.
 
  • #18
Moonbear said:
:smile:
Unfortunately, this news is already making the circuit on internet forums, mostly by the trolls trying to see if they can threaten to use it (no Perennial, I'm not calling you a troll...I meant on the other forums I've seen people posting it). As it's written, it'll never hold up to challenge if anyone tries to use it. It seems to be part of an anti-spam or anti-cyber-stalking law, but the problem is that it requires demonstrating intent, and I don't think that's going to be very easy to prove or enforce.
:smile: yep, just shaved so it probably doesn't fit any longer.

From the original link:
...To grease the rails for this idea, Sen. Arlen Specter, a Pennsylvania Republican, and the section's other sponsors slipped it into an unrelated, must-pass bill to fund the Department of Justice. The plan: to make it politically infeasible for politicians to oppose the measure. ...

Starting to sound like a "no brainer" in more ways than one.
 
  • #19
Wow! does this mean that I will finally see an end to the dozen anoying spam emails I get everyday? :rolleyes:
 
  • #20
Integral said:
Wow! does this mean that I will finally see an end to the dozen anoying spam emails I get everyday? :rolleyes:
That's the thing. It doesn't outlaw things that annoy you, only things that intend to annoy you.
 
  • #21
matthyaouw said:
Wohoo, I'm English, therefore immune! :biggrin:
I can be as annoying as usual!
Don't be so comfortable with it! Perhaps US is looking for an excuse to attack your country and that's why they're working on this new law!:-p
 
  • #22
When will congress pass the law banning being annyonig both on the internet and in real life?I don't think it's going to be enfroced
Lisa! said:
Don't be so comfortable with it! Perhaps US is looking for an excuse to attack your country and that's why they're working on this new law!:-p
No not the UK they supported us in the Iraq were not going to attack them.Where going to attack:
Canada
France
Iran
North Korea
Stanland
the Soviet Socialist Republic of Dinsney land
The Republic of Mars
The(star wars)Galatic Empire
World of Warcraft
and of course Terroiststan
 
Last edited:

FAQ: Can You Go to Jail for Annoying Someone Online?

What is the reason for P&WA contributors going to jail?

The P&WA (Pay and Work Agreement) contributors are going to jail due to fraudulent activities committed by the company. They have been found guilty of embezzlement, money laundering, and other illegal activities.

How many P&WA contributors are going to jail?

As of now, the exact number of P&WA contributors going to jail is unknown. However, it is estimated that several high-ranking officials and employees of the company will face jail time.

Will the company be facing any legal consequences for the actions of its contributors?

Yes, the company will be facing legal consequences for the actions of its contributors. The company may face fines, legal charges, and even bankruptcy due to the severity of the situation.

What impact will the imprisonment of P&WA contributors have on the company?

The imprisonment of P&WA contributors will have a significant impact on the company. It may lead to a loss of trust and reputation among its stakeholders, potential financial losses, and a decline in business operations.

Are there any measures in place to prevent similar situations in the future?

As a scientist, I cannot speak for any specific measures, but it is expected that the legal system and regulatory bodies will take necessary actions to prevent similar situations in the future. Additionally, companies may also implement stricter internal controls and compliance measures to avoid such incidents.

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