illegal to troll in az

maletac

http://gizmodo.com/5898585/itll-soon-be-illegal-to-troll-in-arizona

I cant even believe this right now :O its so broad

Musikelektronik

Well, let's be clear: it doesn't outlaw "trolling," exactly.

It really just complements laws that are already on the books. Threatening and intimidating in person is already a crime. This new bill apparently tries to make online versions of the same activity unlawful as well.

But I agree that this law will, in some cases at least, be difficult to enforce (assuming Gov. Brewer signs it).

maletac

Well, let's be clear: it doesn't outlaw "trolling," exactly.

It really just complements laws that are already on the books. Threatening and intimidating in person is already a crime. This new bill apparently tries to make online versions of the same activity unlawful as well.

But I agree that this law will, in some cases at least, be difficult to enforce (assuming Gov. Brewer signs it).

she will because she ******** ********* ********** ********* (dont wanna get in trouble)
but it does say any profane language.


and

it is so broad and uses words like stalking being a class 3 felony. so does that mean if i look at someones profile 3 times within an hour thats stalking :grumble:

Musikelektronik

Well, let's be clear: it doesn't outlaw "trolling," exactly.

It really just complements laws that are already on the books. Threatening and intimidating in person is already a crime. This new bill apparently tries to make online versions of the same activity unlawful as well.

But I agree that this law will, in some cases at least, be difficult to enforce (assuming Gov. Brewer signs it).

she will because she ******** ********* ********** ********* (dont wanna get in trouble)
but it does say any profane language.


and

it is so broad and uses words like stalking being a class 3 felony. so does that mean if i look at someones profile 3 times within an hour thats stalking :grumble:

You have to read the entire statute as a whole. It says that certain activities are illegal only if they are done "with intent to terrify, intimidate, threaten, harass, annoy or offend," or if one "threaten to inflict physical harm to the person or property of any person." It's the intimidation and threatening that make the activities illegal.

I'm not sure how "offend[ing] or "annoy[ing]" someone could possibly be illegal in the United States, so that part of the law is certainly questionable. But things like intimidating, threatening, and harassing have been illegal for a long time in Arizona and elsewhere. The same is true of stalking, which is already illegal in Arizona. You'd have to look at the statute, but looking at someone's profile probably doesn't fit the definition of stalking.

Yes, I'm a lawyer, in case you're wondering.

blytheandbonnie

Where DO we draw the line between "I was just sayin'" and "you are totally scaring the s*** outta me?" It's all perception and personal comfort, no?

maletac

"with intent to terrify, intimidate, threaten, harass, annoy or offend,"

i say stuff all the time to annoy people... and anything i do can be seen as offensive if they wanna take it that way. i'm not doubting your skill but terrify and threaten i get.... harassing annoying or offending someone is pretty broad terms

and unless it is physically written in the bill what they define as stalking then why not count profile views as stalking because you know some weirdo is gonna take it there

jplord

"Yes, I'm a lawyer, in case you're wondering. "

and a damn good one!

ket_the_jet

Yes, I'm a lawyer, in case you're wondering.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvjpm1mJXlE

Cheers.
-wtk

livinginwoods

You have to be careful all the time. About a year and a half ago my husband had to pay a hefty fine and go to court for emailing someone and calling her a b**ch and than calling them a bad name on voice mail. He never once threatened her life or to hurt her etc. He said that if she did not stop posting very personal stuff about me on her facebook he would tell some of her most private secrets. He did it out of anger over something that had been done to me and he was wrong for it and he knows it but he was slapped with the law over it because she called the police and reported him for harassment. My point is to always be on your guard and always be careful what you put online as it could come back to bite you.

Musikelektronik

Yes, I'm a lawyer, in case you're wondering.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvjpm1mJXlE

Cheers.
-wtk

Well, I had to say it. Otherwise, he'd just think that I'm just making all this stuff up!