gizmodo.com/5898585/itll-soon-be-illegal-to-troll-in-arizona
Subscribe sending request Trolling Could Get You 25 Years in Jail in Arizona Trolling Could Get You 25 Years in Jail in Arizona One of the Internet's basic tenets--the right to be as much of a myopic, infantile asshat as humanly possible--is currently under attack in Arizona. A sweeping update to the state's telecommunications harrasment bill could make naughty, angry words a Class 1 misdemeanor.
by legislators who fundamentally don't understand the nature of the internet. Arizona House Bill 2549 passed both legislative houses last Thursday and is now awaiting approval from Arizona's governor Brewer. The statute states that: "It is unlawful for any person, with intent to terrify, intimidate, threaten, harass, annoy or offend, to use a 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." If the electronic devices and means are employed to stalk a victim, the penalty bumps up to a Class 3 felony.
Class 1 misdemeanor is punishable by a $2,500 fine and up to six months in jail (it's the most aggressive misdemeanor charge the state can bring). A Class 3 felony, meanwhile, carries a minimum sentence of 25 years for non-dangerous offenders with no prior record. Opponents of the bill argue that the wording is overly broad and could easily be interpreted to include not just one-on-one communications but public forums like 4Chan, Reddit, and anywhere else that allows commenting. It could also have a chilling effect on free speech by prohibiting shocking or "profane" language online. The bill's supporters argue that the steps are necessary to prevent online bullying. Despite the public outcry, the bill has seen very little resistance from elected officials.
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