Arizona bill could criminalize internet trolling

brutalwizard · 04-04-2012, 04:51 PM

Arizona bill could criminalize Internet trolling | Games Blog - Yahoo! Games

Arizona House Bill 2549 has already passed both of the state's legislative bodies and is currently sitting on the desk of Governor Jan Brewer. While there's a lot in there that doesn't concern trolling, here's the line that has people worried:

"It is unlawful for any person, with intent to terrify, intimidate, threaten, harass, annoy or offend, to use 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."

the south.......

Hemi-Powered Drone · 04-04-2012, 05:06 PM

I know trolling can be annoying but come the .... on!What the hell happened to the First ....ing Amendment of the god damn US Constitution? I mean, if Nazi assholes can march anywhere, even a ....ing Jewish neighborhood, why is it not okay for some internet douchebags to troll some n00bs?

That being said, if the trolling turns into legitimate threats or harassment that causes something to happen (suicide, etc) I believe that could and should be criminalized.

Konfyouzd · 04-04-2012, 05:07 PM

This is why social networking is ....ing stupid... Or at least the direction we went with it was...

JStraitiff · 04-04-2012, 05:32 PM

Trolling is harassment. Theres really no way around that. Trolling isnt just giving someone a hard time, trolls are ....ing assholes that you literally want to hunt down and murder in the most brutal way. Its harassment.

pink freud · 04-04-2012, 06:16 PM

Violation of the first amendment if you consider the internet "public" and a overstepping bounds if the site you are on is privately owned.

So, any Arizona legislator who drafted this bill and is by chance reading this post:.... you you ....ing ....idity ....er ..... And your dog.

Origin · 04-04-2012, 06:27 PM

Utterly anti-constitutional. That ambiguous wording is terrifying too.

Pure garbage, god I hope it doesn't go through.

Konfyouzd · 04-04-2012, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JStraitiff

Trolling is harassment. Theres really no way around that. Trolling isnt just giving someone a hard time, trolls are ....ing assholes that you literally want to hunt down and murder in the most brutal way. Its harassment.

Except you have the option to walk away from teh interwebz.

highlordmugfug · 04-04-2012, 07:17 PM

It's not so much that it would make trolling illegal that makes it terrifying, but the vague language and inclusion of the words "annoy or offend" and "and use any obscene, lewd or profane language or suggest any lewd or lascivious act".

If I like a band you don't like, that could annoy you: BOOM I go to jail.
If I say that I don't agree with your opinion on something, that could offend you: BOOM I go to jail.
If I say my balls itch (that could be considered lewd and some people would even consider that profane): BOOM I go to jail.

That bill could only have been written by 3 type of people: Complete nitwits, religious psychos looking for some dark age style law enforcement, or dumb old men who don't get how the internet and its series of tubes work.

Konfyouzd · 04-04-2012, 07:25 PM

^

MaxOfMetal · 04-04-2012, 07:35 PM

Have to ask, who here has read Bill 2549 in it's entirety? It's only a few pages.

It seems to be focusing more on stalking than it does "trolling". In fact only about 1/4 of the bill speaks to trolling.

It's also classifying it as a Class I misdemeanor, so unless you're a serial felon with prior convictions it's likely going to result in no jail/prison time and little more than some community service, if it even goes that far. So it would be a step above a jaywalking ticket.

It also appears, given the language, especially further on when talking about stalking, that this is aimed more at direct communications, such as text messaging and e-mail, opposed to forum and board posts.

I'm not in agreement with this bill, on it's face at least. It certainly needs another revision, but it's not 1/100000 the big deal some folks are making this out to be by not even reading the bill.

Explorer · 04-04-2012, 09:21 PM

It seems to be that a lot of you aren't parsing that sentence correctly. When I read this...

"It is unlawful for any person, with intent to terrify, intimidate, threaten, harass, annoy or offend, to use 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."

... I understand it the way one reads such laws. Let me try a rephrase:

"In the context of this stalking law, it is unlawful for any person to intentionally terrify, intimidate, threaten, harass, annoy or offend someone. Doing so by the following means is illegal: to use 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."

Oh my god! By removing my right to intentionally terrify, intimidate, threaten, harass, annoy or offend someone whom I'm intentionally stalking, they're attacking the First Amendment!

*laugh*

There's more to the law, of course. Let's see the context in which this kind of activity is forbidden:

"13-2923. Stalking; classification; definitions A. A person commits stalking if the person intentionally or knowingly engages in a course of conduct that is directed toward another person and if that conduct either:
1. Would cause a reasonable person to fear for the person's safety or the safety of that person's immediate family member and that person in fact fears for their the person's safety or the safety of that person's immediate family member.
2. Would cause a reasonable person to fear death of that person or that person's immediate family member and that person in fact fears death of that person or that person's immediate family member."

That doesn't just sound like someone posting something on the internet which a random person would find offensive. It sounds like there's a reasonable test to determine that someone is stalking.

Of course, I'm probably the only one who doesn't think that stalking is protected speech.

Carry on!

decypher · 04-04-2012, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JStraitiff

Trolling is harassment. Theres really no way around that. Trolling isnt just giving someone a hard time, trolls are ....ing assholes that you literally want to hunt down and murder in the most brutal way. Its harassment.

Nice troll post!

ElRay · 04-04-2012, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Explorer

It seems to be that a lot of you aren't parsing that sentence correctly. When I read this ... I understand it the way one reads such laws ... By removing my right to intentionally terrify, intimidate, threaten, harass, annoy or offend someone whom I'm intentionally stalking, they're attacking the First Amendment!

The problem isn't so much the intent of the law, the problem is the way that it can be (and likely will be) misused. There are many, many cases of legitimate anti-wiretapping laws being applied to citizens video-taping government employees, going about their duties in public spaces, resulting in the arrest of innocent citizens. In other words, a cop, out doing their job in a public space, has no expectations of privacy, so anti-wiretapping laws have no bearing, and there's plenty of case law showing that the laws don't apply; however, that doesn't stop cops from harassing and arresting citizens having done nothing wrong.

Ray

Treeunit212 · 04-04-2012, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dragonblade629

I know trolling can be annoying but come the .... on!What the hell happened to the First ....ing Amendment of the god damn US Constitution? I mean, if Nazi assholes can march anywhere, even a ....ing Jewish neighborhood, why is it not okay for some internet douchebags to troll some n00bs?

That being said, if the trolling turns into legitimate threats or harassment that causes something to happen (suicide, etc) I believe that could and should be criminalized.

Agreed, but how could you prove that in a court of law?

But yeah, this reminds me of the time I got accused of intimidation with intent to cause damage to property on the basis of a Facebook status. The status was a direct quote from the GTA IV mock radio shows/stations, and it basically was a scenario in which a defendant didn't understand why he was in trouble because "all I did was smash her windows, pee in the front seat and took a dump in the air filter".

I even cited the quote TO the video game, yet I was still pulled aside from my senior year of high school and interrogated by a police officer to the point of threatening me with two years in prison.

Although I DID admittedly "threaten" this person previously through text (for sending a mutual friend to federal prison for an alleged rape), the use of an extremely generalized and irrelevant statement to further intimidate me from using my own right to free speech on the matter is what really troubles me. It seems clear that this law would be abused much more often than it could be used properly and fairly.

pink freud · 04-05-2012, 12:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Explorer

It seems to be that a lot of you aren't parsing that sentence correctly. When I read this...

"It is unlawful for any person, with intent to terrify, intimidate, threaten, harass, annoy or offend, to use 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."

... I understand it the way one reads such laws. Let me try a rephrase:

"In the context of this stalking law, it is unlawful for any person to intentionally terrify, intimidate, threaten, harass, annoy or offend someone. Doing so by the following means is illegal: to use 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."

Your phrasing changes the clauses of the sentence. I'm no law student, but I'm pretty sure clauses are one of the most important things about legal language.

Riffer · 04-05-2012, 10:54 AM

Either way, I have a deep seeded hatred for that state.

Xaios · 04-05-2012, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by decypher

Nice troll post!

Damn, beat me to it.

synrgy · 04-05-2012, 11:52 AM

The sad thing is I didn't have to make it. I found it on a Google search.

Randy · 04-05-2012, 12:05 PM

Problem Arizona?

HighGain510 · 04-05-2012, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by synrgy

The sad thing is I didn't have to make it. I found it on a Google search.

You just trolled Arizona electronically... to the slammer you go!

Raaaaal13 · 04-05-2012, 12:22 PM

This is ridiculous. I hate living in this state sometimes.

Painhawg · 04-05-2012, 02:10 PM

Will it go through? Maybe. Will it be abused? You can damn sure bet on it.

If it gets done, say goodbye to whatever Arizona wants to get rid of in Arizona. Bet they are waiting for Jose Gomez to troll anything in Arizona.

Painhawg · 04-05-2012, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dragonblade629

I know trolling can be annoying but come the .... on!What the hell happened to the First ....ing Amendment of the god damn US Constitution? I mean, if Nazi assholes can march anywhere, even a ....ing Jewish neighborhood, why is it not okay for some internet douchebags to troll some n00bs?

That being said, if the trolling turns into legitimate threats or harassment that causes something to happen (suicide, etc) I believe that could and should be criminalized.

A guy named the Mittani in eve did that very thing at a CCP function. Called to the players to harass a player until he would commit suicide. And people dug it.

explanatory edit

The Mittani, a player and large group leader

Eve, an online spaceship mmorpg.

habicore_5150 · 04-05-2012, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Painhawg

A guy named the Mittani in eve did that very thing at a CCP function. Called to the players to harass a player until he would commit suicide. And people dug it.

explanatory edit

The Mittani, a player and large group leader

Eve, an online spaceship mmorpg.

ive heard about that, apparently the guy who wanted people to heckle the one who wanted to commit suicide, he stepped down a while back
pretty unprofessional if ya ask me

but back on the whole bit about Arizona apparently trying to deal with trolling
im just hoping that this thing gets scrapped real soon

It is unlawful for any person, with intent to terrify, intimidate, threaten, harass, annoy or offend, to use 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.

i honestly lost count of how many very vague laws or bills were thrown around within the last couple of years.

Konfyouzd · 04-05-2012, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raaaaal13

This is ridiculous. I hate living in the states sometimes.

Fix'd

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04-04-2012, 04:51 PM	#1
brutalwizard Pretty Your Petunia Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: idaho Posts: 2,855 Thanked: 101 $brutalwizard is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $brutalwizard is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $brutalwizard is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $brutalwizard is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $brutalwizard is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $brutalwizard is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $brutalwizard is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ Feedback Score: 8 reviews	Arizona bill could criminalize internet trolling Arizona bill could criminalize Internet trolling \| Games Blog - Yahoo! Games Arizona House Bill 2549 has already passed both of the state's legislative bodies and is currently sitting on the desk of Governor Jan Brewer. While there's a lot in there that doesn't concern trolling, here's the line that has people worried: "It is unlawful for any person, with intent to terrify, intimidate, threaten, harass, annoy or offend, to use 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." the south....... Check out my band http://www.facebook.com/ForsythiaOfficial My youtube youtube.com/therealgtarbeast666 I don't think that we ever thought of it as the equivalent of music, as the end-goal was to buy more in-game slut clothes-- schecterwhore on rock band Im a super chill mellow ambient slut. --7 STRINGS OF HATE

04-04-2012, 05:06 PM	#2
Hemi-Powered Drone Dragonblade629 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Sunrise, FL Posts: 3,292 Thanked: 36 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I know trolling can be annoying but come the .... on!What the hell happened to the First ....ing Amendment of the god damn US Constitution? I mean, if Nazi assholes can march anywhere, even a ....ing Jewish neighborhood, why is it not okay for some internet douchebags to troll some n00bs? That being said, if the trolling turns into legitimate threats or harassment that causes something to happen (suicide, etc) I believe that could and should be criminalized. Come join the SS.org Minecraft server! Or not, it's your choice. [rythmic_pulses] 11:14 pm: I think the chat just crashed into a horny cum covered tree "Do space and sex go together? Not really, but that doesn't matter." - Science Channel

04-04-2012, 05:07 PM	#3
Konfyouzd Dread-I Master Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Mars Posts: 15,665 Thanked: 191 Feedback Score: 4 reviews	This is why social networking is ....ing stupid... Or at least the direction we went with it was... "... and on either side of the river was the tree of life. The leaves of this tree were for the healing of nations." "He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle and the herb for the service of man." "Lifes too short to hate Floyd Roses."

04-04-2012, 06:16 PM	#5
pink freud SS.org Regular Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Seattle Posts: 2,466 Thanked: 53 $pink freud is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $pink freud is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $pink freud is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $pink freud is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $pink freud is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $pink freud is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $pink freud is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Violation of the first amendment if you consider the internet "public" and a overstepping bounds if the site you are on is privately owned. So, any Arizona legislator who drafted this bill and is by chance reading this post:.... you you ....ing ....idity ....er ..... And your dog. anthonyferguson and Hemi-Powered Drone like this. Last.FM: http://www.last.fm/user/pinkfreudHC

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04-04-2012, 05:32 PM	#4
JStraitiff Melodic Mamma Jamma Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 1,164 Thanked: 7 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Trolling is harassment. Theres really no way around that. Trolling isnt just giving someone a hard time, trolls are ....ing assholes that you literally want to hunt down and murder in the most brutal way. Its harassment.

04-04-2012, 06:27 PM	#6
Origin Rainbow In The Dark Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,575 Thanked: 10 Feedback Score: 16 reviews	Utterly anti-constitutional. That ambiguous wording is terrifying too. Pure garbage, god I hope it doesn't go through. Konfyouzd, highlordmugfug and Hemi-Powered Drone like this. Praise the sun!

04-04-2012, 07:17 PM	#8
highlordmugfug themuthaphukkindeath Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: _ Posts: 4,012 Thanked: 47 $highlordmugfug is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $highlordmugfug is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $highlordmugfug is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $highlordmugfug is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $highlordmugfug is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $highlordmugfug is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $highlordmugfug is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ Feedback Score: 18 reviews	It's not so much that it would make trolling illegal that makes it terrifying, but the vague language and inclusion of the words "annoy or offend" and "and use any obscene, lewd or profane language or suggest any lewd or lascivious act". If I like a band you don't like, that could annoy you: BOOM I go to jail. If I say that I don't agree with your opinion on something, that could offend you: BOOM I go to jail. If I say my balls itch (that could be considered lewd and some people would even consider that profane): BOOM I go to jail. That bill could only have been written by 3 type of people: Complete nitwits, religious psychos looking for some dark age style law enforcement, or dumb old men who don't get how the internet and its series of tubes work. Randy, K3V1N SHR3DZ, SchecterWhore and 3 others like this.

04-04-2012, 07:25 PM	#9
Konfyouzd Dread-I Master Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Mars Posts: 15,665 Thanked: 191 Feedback Score: 4 reviews	^ "... and on either side of the river was the tree of life. The leaves of this tree were for the healing of nations." "He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle and the herb for the service of man." "Lifes too short to hate Floyd Roses."

04-04-2012, 07:35 PM	#10
MaxOfMetal Likes trem wankery. • Super Moderator • Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 21,488 Thanked: 93 Feedback Score: 5 reviews	Have to ask, who here has read Bill 2549 in it's entirety? It's only a few pages. It seems to be focusing more on stalking than it does "trolling". In fact only about 1/4 of the bill speaks to trolling. It's also classifying it as a Class I misdemeanor, so unless you're a serial felon with prior convictions it's likely going to result in no jail/prison time and little more than some community service, if it even goes that far. So it would be a step above a jaywalking ticket. It also appears, given the language, especially further on when talking about stalking, that this is aimed more at direct communications, such as text messaging and e-mail, opposed to forum and board posts. I'm not in agreement with this bill, on it's face at least. It certainly needs another revision, but it's not 1/100000 the big deal some folks are making this out to be by not even reading the bill. Rev2010, SchecterWhore, synrgy and 1 others like this. Need help with setting up a trem? Need info on your Ibby? Live in Milwaukee? Please feel free to message me. New Rules. Read Them.

04-04-2012, 09:21 PM	#11
Explorer He seldomly knows... Join Date: May 2009 Location: Formerly from Cucaramacatacatirimilcote... Posts: 3,691 Thanked: 40 Feedback Score: 2 reviews	It seems to be that a lot of you aren't parsing that sentence correctly. When I read this... "It is unlawful for any person, with intent to terrify, intimidate, threaten, harass, annoy or offend, to use 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." ... I understand it the way one reads such laws. Let me try a rephrase: "In the context of this stalking law, it is unlawful for any person to intentionally terrify, intimidate, threaten, harass, annoy or offend someone. Doing so by the following means is illegal: to use 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." Oh my god! By removing my right to intentionally terrify, intimidate, threaten, harass, annoy or offend someone whom I'm intentionally stalking, they're attacking the First Amendment! laugh There's more to the law, of course. Let's see the context in which this kind of activity is forbidden: "13-2923. Stalking; classification; definitions A. A person commits stalking if the person intentionally or knowingly engages in a course of conduct that is directed toward another person and if that conduct either: 1. Would cause a reasonable person to fear for the person's safety or the safety of that person's immediate family member and that person in fact fears for their the person's safety or the safety of that person's immediate family member. 2. Would cause a reasonable person to fear death of that person or that person's immediate family member and that person in fact fears death of that person or that person's immediate family member." That doesn't just sound like someone posting something on the internet which a random person would find offensive. It sounds like there's a reasonable test to determine that someone is stalking. Of course, I'm probably the only one who doesn't think that stalking is protected speech. Carry on! synrgy, ghstofperdition, Edika and 2 others like this. If you don't care enough to research your own question, why should anyone else care more? "Pay no attention to his long winded posts... (Explorer) seldomly knows what he's talking about." Adam Of Angels "Actual knowledge and a google bookmark are very different things." Anonymous neg-repper

04-05-2012, 10:54 AM	#16
Riffer PRS SE Inspector Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Delaware Posts: 1,489 Thanked: 76 Feedback Score: 3 reviews	Either way, I have a deep seeded hatred for that state. *"It's a long way, to the top, if you wanna rock n' roll" - Bon Scott* *BE A MAN AND SIGN THE NEG REP YOU GIVE ME, PLEASE.*

04-05-2012, 11:52 AM	#18
synrgy Iraq Lobster. Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Alexandria, VA Posts: 5,619 Thanked: 65 Feedback Score: 1 reviews	The sad thing is I didn't have to make it. I found it on a Google search. Randy, HighGain510, K3V1N SHR3DZ and 2 others like this. ___________________________________________ The best thread I'll ever post Guitar Tunes Electronic Work Hobbits are a Tolkein minority.

04-05-2012, 12:05 PM	#19
Randy DAN OUDA DAN • Super Moderator • Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: The Electric City, NY Posts: 16,007 Thanked: 166 Feedback Score: 12 reviews	Problem Arizona? Treeunit212 likes this. "Can we pull back the veil of static and reach in to the source of all being? Behind this curtain of patterns, this random pattern generator. So clever. Right here in every home, watching us from a one-sided mirror." Argbadh - RHLC©

04-05-2012, 12:22 PM	#21
Raaaaal13 ss.org Regular Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Tolleson, AZ Posts: 50 Thanked: 4 / 1 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	This is ridiculous. I hate living in this state sometimes.

04-05-2012, 02:10 PM	#22
Painhawg ss.org Regular Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Jeff City, MO Posts: 55 Thanked: 2 / 1 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Will it go through? Maybe. Will it be abused? You can damn sure bet on it. If it gets done, say goodbye to whatever Arizona wants to get rid of in Arizona. Bet they are waiting for Jose Gomez to troll anything in Arizona.

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