Being annoying, offensive or maybe even provocative online could become illegal in Arizona if legislators move forward with a bill.

Arizona House Bill 2549 would amend the telephone harassment section of the state's anti-stalking law to include the communication technology of the day in an effort to combat cyberbullying.

The portion in question reads: "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."

"Electronic or digital device" would supplant "telephone." But the substitution may alter the focus of the law, some contend.

"Telephones are basically one-to-one devices, so a phone call that uses profane language to offend is likely meant only to offend the one recipient, rather than to persuade or inform anyone," writes Eugene Volokh, who teaches free speech law at UCLA. "But computers used to post Facebook messages or send Twitter messages or post blog items can offend some listeners while persuading and informing others."

Image all that use of "any obscene, lewd or profane language" over "any electronic or digital device" could cover: online cartoons, commentary, status updates, comments, tweets, blogs, feeds -- sent to individuals but also available for general consumption.

That could include provocative and offensive commenters, or trolls, on websites such as this one. And websites are accessible throughout the country, not just within a state. The law could have an effect on cyber-citizens outside Arizona.


http://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-arizona-internet-trolling-law-20120405,0,4138953.story

 

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