More of the Same

[jackofallgeeks]

Related to my earlier post: Federal legislation to Protect the Children, which in part targets convicted sex offenders specifically, but another part also may effect little guys, too.

From the article:
Then, any social-networking site must take "effective measures" to remove any Web page that's "associated" with a sex offender.

A McCain aide, who did not want to be identified by name, said on Friday that the measure was targeted at any Web site that "you'd have to join up or become a member of to use." No payment would be necessary to qualify, the aide added.

Does anyone else think this sounds a lot like denying offenders nearly any and all access to the Internet? Does this make anyone else concerned about how far this could stretch? It sounds an awful lot like censorship and denial of free speech?

Comments

[higheststar.livejournal.com]

Ya commit a felony, you already give up a lot of your constitutional rights! In some states it means you lose the right to vote. In Va, they keep your DNA on file for the rest of your life! This includes minors who commit felonies. Depending on the sex offender, I think it's a decent law. I have already sat through one too many cases where kids were victimized on myspace. I mean yes, I think it is the parents job to keep a better eye on their kid, but I also think that this is not inherently a bad law.

[higheststar.livejournal.com]

Well i worked for the juvenile courts, so I saw their preliminary hearings and and arraignments (actually trials would be across the street at circuit courts where they have jury trials). Since these were preliminary matters, not all evidence is produced. Therefore, i have no idea how many were known felons (that would come in during the trial). But it was both through Myspace and people that they then met or were going to meet from myspace.