California tries to get tough on cyberstalking
California eyes stronger cyberstalking laws:
California is looking to strengthen it’s cyberstalking laws after a wave of harassment has taken place on craigslist. In one such incident a 17-year-old girl’s picture and phone number were posted on craigslist with an ad stating that people should call if they’re interested in a good time.
The proposed bill (AB 919) is authored by Republican state Rep. Guy Houston and is designed to prevent individuals from using Web sites such as MySpace.com and Craigslist to deliberately incite harassment or abuse against an individual.
Such harassment can include the posting of digital images or messages on Web sites in an effort to cause fear, harassment or harm to an individual, according to an official description of the bill. The measure would allow California law enforcement officials to pursue stalking charges against people responsible for such messages.
AB 919 will allow for the prosecution of individuals responsible for such acts for the first time, the spokesman said. It is not clear whether new language will be included in the state’s existing cyberstalking laws to accommodate the provisions contained in AB 919 or whether it will be passed as a separate law.
They need to make the penalties worthwhile too. If it’s just a slap on the wrist for these offenses then it’s not worth the time in pursuing the proposed legislation.
Tags: AB919, california, craigslist, cyberstalkingRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Law
1 opinion for California tries to get tough on cyberstalking
Me
Oct 13, 2007 at 12:14 am
About damn time.
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