Create an e-annoyance, go to jail

[eyelander]

Annoying someone via the Internet is now a federal crime.A new federal law states that when you annoy someone on the Internet, you must disclose your identity. Here's the relevant language

Comments

[erechtheus]

I have to quibble with your second sentence just a little bit. You have to intend to annoy that person.

I have to guess this is some sort of anti-spam measure first and foremost.

[eyelander]

People on the net annoy each other often, intentionally or not. So how is this going to be enforced? How is this law going to be used? That's the real question.

[erechtheus]

Well, it's not going to be used to go after people who are not annoying people with an intent to do so. That's a good thing. You can also bet that there will be a healthy use of prosecutorial discretion.