Can you please post the text of the bill? Thank you, ... Vladimir Z. Nuri wrote:
this law got a little notice here although I didn't notice people considering its identity aspects in particular.
this proposed law in Georgia would make it illegal to have a login name other than your legal name, as I understand it.
I consider it rather silly, naive, and unenforcable, but it does suggest a few things:
1. lawmakers are starting to notice the internet bigtime. 2. its starting to freak them out. 3. the identity issues raised by cyberspace have significant social implications and will not go away quietly. 4. there are some legitimate reasons to require ID in some places in cyberspace.
of course I will be flamed on 4, but my position is, has always been the following: both anonymous and "identified" communication have their places. I am not suggesting that either one is superior a priori. however each has different uses. some things that are possible in one are not possible in the other, etc.
I think it is reasonable for people who create/maintain forums or other cyberspace services to demand, and be able to enforce, that you use your real identity if they choose. likewise, you are free not to join these place or use these services. I think anyone should be free to create alternatives that spit in the face of these restrictions. let the market decide what is most viable in given situations.
I suspect that we are going to see some laws being passed trying to regulate cyberspace that are really ridiculous. it will take the lawmakers awhile to figure out what they can and can't get away with and when their opinions are or are not relevant to what happens.
meanwhile, if the internet really is robust, their irrelevant posturings should not make much difference, although I am *not* advocating that people resign themselves to these laws, only that if they pass the situation is not necessarily catastrophic or apocalyptic.
------- Forwarded Message
- ------- Forwarded Message
Date: Tue, 30 Apr 1996 11:31:52 -0400 (EDT) From: merkaba@styx.ios.com Reply-To: snetnews@xbn.shore.net To: Multiple recipients of list SNETNEWS <SNETNEWS@XBN.SHORE.NET> Subject: INTERNET POLICE (fwd)
- - ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Fri, 26 Apr 1996 21:44:53 -0400 From: Ronald Pearce <ronald@cybercomm.net> To: merkaba@styx.ios.com Subject: INTERNET POLICE
It is being dubbed the Internet Police Law. Georgia's state government is beginning to catch a little net-heat because of a new law signed by the Governor last week which, according to some, CRIMINALIZES the use of e-mail addresses which don't properly identify a person, as well as the practice of linking to another web page by name without first obtaining permission to link.
If anyone cares to see information and commentary on this new law, feel free to browse over to www.kuesterlaw.com. I would love to know what everyone thinks about the constitutionality of this bill, as well as any other comments.
Thanks. jk Jeffrey R. Kuester, Esq. Patent, Copyright, & Trademark Law 6445 Powers Ferry Road, Suite 230, Atlanta, Georgia 30339 Ph (770) 951-2623 Fax (770) 612-9713 E-mail: kuester@kuesterlaw.com WWW: http://www.KUESTERLAW.com (The Technology Law Resource)
---------------------------------------------------------------
- - -> SNETNEWS Mailing List & Fidonet Echo - - -> Post to: listserv@xbn.shore.net - - -> subscribe snetnews
- ------- End of Forwarded Message
------- End of Forwarded Message