Trolls, stalkers face fines, imprisonment under new Federal law

[l***@law]

On January 5th, 2006 President Bush signed the
"Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act"
(pdf copy:
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=109_cong_bills&docid=f:h3402enr.txt.pdf
'Sec 113: Preventing cyberstalking' (pdf page 28) of this law extends
existing telephone harassment laws ('Communications
Act of 1934, Sect 223: Obscene or harassing telephone calls in the
District of Columbia or in interstate or foreign communications' -
http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode47/usc_sec_47_00000223----000-.html)
to the Internet.

Sect 223: 1c prohibits anyone who:
"makes a telephone call or utilizes a telecommunications device,
whether or not conversation or communication ensues, WITHOUT
DISCLOSING HIS IDENTITY and WITH INTENT TO ANNOY, ABUSE, THREATEN OR
HARASS any person at the called number or who receives the
communications [my emphasis]. Anyone who does so may be fined or
imprisoned, or both.

If you are being annoyed, abused, threatened or harassed online
including in user groups, web forums or by email you should demand the
person doing so identifies themselves - full name and address ( Note:
you are not required to identify yourself when doing so). If they
refuse to do so, or provide a false ID, you should file a complaint
with the FBI.

This law only applies within the United States. However, it may also
apply if such annoyance, abuse, threat or harassment was sent via U.S.
based Internet companies, including news providers like Easynews
Giganews, Google and Supernews. Even if the FBI cannot act against a
foreign national they should notify you of the national's ID. You can
also demand a U.S. based provider blocks the annoyance, abuse, threats
or harassment being sent through their service. They may be fined
and/or imprisoned if they don't. Be aware that some foreign service
provides in fact use server farms located in the U.S. which means this
law also applies to them - do a trace to check.

This law was enacted to protect U.S citizens from being annoyed,
abused, threatened or harassed online. Use it!

[GFX]

I think that sounds like an OK idea, but what is the definition (legally) of
a "telecommunications" device?

If you are personally being stalked or harassed by someone, I hope it ends
soon. A member of my family endured that for some time, and it was quite
bad.

Post by l***@law
On January 5th, 2006 President Bush signed the
"Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act"
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=109_cong_bills&docid=f:h3402enr.txt.pdf
'Sec 113: Preventing cyberstalking' (pdf page 28) of this law extends
existing telephone harassment laws ('Communications
Act of 1934, Sect 223: Obscene or harassing telephone calls in the
District of Columbia or in interstate or foreign communications' -
http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode47/usc_sec_47_00000223----000-.html)
to the Internet.
"makes a telephone call or utilizes a telecommunications device,
whether or not conversation or communication ensues, WITHOUT
DISCLOSING HIS IDENTITY and WITH INTENT TO ANNOY, ABUSE, THREATEN OR
HARASS any person at the called number or who receives the
communications [my emphasis]. Anyone who does so may be fined or
imprisoned, or both.
If you are being annoyed, abused, threatened or harassed online
including in user groups, web forums or by email you should demand the
you are not required to identify yourself when doing so). If they
refuse to do so, or provide a false ID, you should file a complaint
with the FBI.
This law only applies within the United States. However, it may also
apply if such annoyance, abuse, threat or harassment was sent via U.S.
based Internet companies, including news providers like Easynews
Giganews, Google and Supernews. Even if the FBI cannot act against a
foreign national they should notify you of the national's ID. You can
also demand a U.S. based provider blocks the annoyance, abuse, threats
or harassment being sent through their service. They may be fined
and/or imprisoned if they don't. Be aware that some foreign service
provides in fact use server farms located in the U.S. which means this
law also applies to them - do a trace to check.
This law was enacted to protect U.S citizens from being annoyed,
abused, threatened or harassed online. Use it!

[Don W. McCollough]

Um, we all know that when the kook who posted this end up
in court violating the Civil Rights of freedom of speech based on
that

Post by l***@law
On January 5th, 2006 President Bush signed the
"Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act"
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=109_cong_bills&docid=f:h3402enr.txt.pdf
'Sec 113: Preventing cyberstalking' (pdf page 28) of this law extends
existing telephone harassment laws ('Communications
Act of 1934, Sect 223: Obscene or harassing telephone calls in the
District of Columbia or in interstate or foreign communications' -
http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode47/usc_sec_47_00000223----000-.html)
to the Internet.
"makes a telephone call or utilizes a telecommunications device,
whether or not conversation or communication ensues, WITHOUT
DISCLOSING HIS IDENTITY and WITH INTENT TO ANNOY, ABUSE, THREATEN OR
HARASS any person at the called number or who receives the
communications [my emphasis]. Anyone who does so may be fined or
imprisoned, or both.
If you are being annoyed, abused, threatened or harassed online
including in user groups, web forums or by email you should demand the
you are not required to identify yourself when doing so). If they
refuse to do so, or provide a false ID, you should file a complaint
with the FBI.

AND THEY WILL LAUGH AT YOU AND HANG UP UNLESS THE THREAT TO YOUR
PERSON IS CREDIBLE AND TANGIBLE. THEY HAVE BETTER THINGS
TO DO THAN BE WORRIED ABOUT WHETHER PEOPLE ARE ANNOYING
EACHOTHER ON USENET WHICH IS INHERENTLY ANNOYMOUS SINCE
POSTS CAN BE FORGED OR ANONYMIZED QUITE EASILY.

AND IF (AHEM) IF ANY OF THIS SHOULD HAPPEN TO END UP IN COURT
(BWAHAHAHA!!!) THE JUDGE WILL LOOK AT YOUR POSTING HISTORY AND IMMEDIATELY
DETERMINE YOUR LEVEL OF KOOKDOM AND REPRIMAND YOU BENCH-BITCH STYLE.

NOW FUCK OFF AND DIE USENET KOOK! OUR FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND RIGHT
TO DISAGREE AND BANTER WITH EACHOTHER ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOUR PARANOID
DELUSIONS OF PERSECUTION...WHICH IS WHAT THE ORGINAL POST
IS ALL ABOUT...RIGHT?

I DOUBT ANYBODY GIVES A FUCK ABOUT YOU AND YOUR LIFE!

HOPE THAT ANNOYS YOU ENOUGH TO BE CRIMINAL. (SHAKING HEAD)

Post by l***@law
This law only applies within the United States. However, it may also
apply if such annoyance, abuse, threat or harassment was sent via U.S.
based Internet companies, including news providers like Easynews
Giganews, Google and Supernews. Even if the FBI cannot act against a
foreign national they should notify you of the national's ID. You can
also demand a U.S. based provider blocks the annoyance, abuse, threats
or harassment being sent through their service. They may be fined
and/or imprisoned if they don't. Be aware that some foreign service
provides in fact use server farms located in the U.S. which means this
law also applies to them - do a trace to check.
This law was enacted to protect U.S citizens from being annoyed,
abused, threatened or harassed online. Use it!