* UPDATE: Apparently the bill has not yet reached Gov. Jan Brewer — The Associated Press says that could happen soon. The Phoenix New Times quotes a sponsor of the legislation saying it has been stopped (for now) and it was all just a big misunderstanding …
The original post:
A bill passed late last week by the Arizona Legislature and now sitting on Gov. Jan Brewer’s desk would criminalize “use of an electronic or digital device to terrify, intimidate, threaten, harass, annoy or offend” — all as defined by the state, apparently.
The scope of this legislation goes beyond one-on-one cyberbullying — as written, it could be applied to just about any content posted on the Internet. It makes no distinction between legitimate complaints of harassment and the easily bruised egos of career politicians. This in a state that is pinning much of its hopes for economic recovery on a technology sector renaissance.
Read more about the bill — HB 2549 — at the websites of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund and Media Coalition. Even better, read the bill (PDF) and decide for yourself whether it’s a good idea. Because time is running out to do something about it if you don’t like it.
