"Intimidating" or "threatening" someone (whatever you want THOSE to mean) online is a FELONY!!??
Is FR a social site?
Whoa what?
This does not bode well for the occasional throw-downs that occur on this forum.
>>> the intent to harm, defraud, intimidate or threaten another person <<<<
Good. No Texas Freepers can tell me to “Go to hell!” anymore.
~~Ayn Rand
How is “intent to harm” defined? This could be a first amendment issue.
Just end ever post with XOXOXO
[[”Intimidating” or “threatening” someone (whatever you want THOSE to mean) online is a FELONY!!??]]
It’s only a felony for the little people- those in the govenrment can ‘threaten and intimidate’ people by threatening them with imprisonment for excersizing hteir RIGHT to FREE SPEECH
What the heck did she say? Was she “cyber-bullying” anyone??
H.B. No. 2003
AN ACT
relating to the creation of the offense of online harassment.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 33, Penal Code, is amended by adding
Section 33.07 to read as follows:
Sec. 33.07. ONLINE HARASSMENT. (a) A person commits an
offense if the person uses the name or persona of another person to
create a web page on or to post one or more messages on a commercial
social networking site:
(1) without obtaining the other person’s consent; and
(2) with the intent to harm, defraud, intimidate, or
threaten any person.
(b) A person commits an offense if the person sends an
electronic mail, instant message, text message, or similar
communication that references a name, domain address, phone number,
or other item of identifying information belonging to any person:
(1) without obtaining the other person’s consent;
(2) with the intent to cause a recipient of the
communication to reasonably believe that the other person
authorized or transmitted the communication; and
(3) with the intent to harm or defraud any person.
(c) An offense under Subsection (a) is a felony of the third
degree. An offense under Subsection (b) is a Class A misdemeanor,
except that the offense is a felony of the third degree if the actor
commits the offense with the intent to solicit a response by
emergency personnel.
(d) If conduct that constitutes an offense under this
section also constitutes an offense under any other law, the actor
may be prosecuted under this section, the other law, or both.
(e) It is a defense to prosecution under this section that
the actor is any of the following entities or that the actor’s
conduct consisted solely of action taken as an employee of any of
the following entities:
(1) a commercial social networking site;
(2) an Internet service provider;
(3) an interactive computer service, as defined by 47
U.S.C. Section 230;
(4) a telecommunications provider, as defined by
Section 51.002, Utilities Code; or
(5) a video service provider or cable service
provider, as defined by Section 66.002, Utilities Code.
(f) In this section:
(1) “Commercial social networking site” means any
business, organization, or other similar entity operating a website
that permits persons to become registered users for the purpose of
establishing personal relationships with other users through
direct or real-time communication with other users or the creation
of web pages or profiles available to the public or to other users.
The term does not include an electronic mail program or a message
board program.
(2) “Identifying information” has the meaning
assigned by Section 32.51.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.
I should hope so.
ping
Online harassment is a form of stalking someone using the Internet to do it. Usually is involves a long and sustained campaign of bullying which causes emotional distress in the bullied and even sets them up to be harmed (i.e. posting ads with pictures of the victim soliciting sex). There is no getting away from the bully by simply switching schools.
I believe in free speech rights, but not when people abuse those rights and call it "a prank." It's not and the law is specific about intent.
A friend of mine was targeted by her vindictive ex who used online harassment tactics. He was never charged, but his actions (putting photoshopped pictures of her on someone else's nude body and posting them) caused her to lose her job. This is a grown woman who had to deal with this, I couldn't imagine what it would be like to be a teenager in high school having someone hell-bent on making me a cyberslut.
The American way to solve personal problems is the personal approach.
Put them is a proverbial ring and get it over with.
Not to worry about the troll question: the intent is to point, laufgh, and humiliate the troll; not to intimidate, threaten, harm, or defraud them.
At least that will be my lawyer’s line of defense. *<];-^)
The odds that this law is remotely Constitutional are about ZERO.
BUAAAA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAhahahaha!!!!