Tennessee goes insane : tries to ban pretty much everything on the internet

Tennessee Tries To Ban Pretty Much Everything On The Internet

Tennessee is courting a war with 4chan’s /b/ with their recently enacted update to harassment laws. Here’s the part of the update to the law which makes sense: if you’re directly harassing someone over the internet, it’s subject to the same laws as harassment over a telephone or through the mail. Fair enough, and kind of surprising that wasn’t already part of the law. Now here’s the part of the law that is completely artarded:

The new legislation adds images to the list of communications that can trigger criminal liability. But for image postings, the “emotionally distressed” individual need not be the intended recipient. Anyone who sees the image is a potential victim. If a court decides you “should have known” that an image you posted would be upsetting to someone who sees it, you could face months in prison and thousands of dollars in fines. [ArsTechnica, emphasis mine]

In other words, it’s now considered misdemeanor harassment — punishable by up to one year in jail and fines of up to $2,500 — if anyone from Tennessee sees an image you posted which can “frighten, intimidate or cause emotional distress”, even if you didn’t send the image to them. Under the ridiculous wording of the law regarding images posted online, just about any image posted anywhere could be considered illegal, regardless of the image poster’s intent. Obviously, this law is unconstitutional and isn’t going to stay unchallenged for long. Another part of the legislation is also questionable: a provision which would allow law enforcement to read communications on social networks without a warrant, something ArsTechnica makes a good case is contrary to the Warshak decision.

Stupid politicians think they can control everything they disagree with or don't understand using laws they pass.

there just a bunch of ''new-fgs'' as my b/rothers would say XD seriously though when will this hit home.

What is wrong with the politicians in Nashville? The internet is open for everyone to view pretty much everything. Perhaps you will encounter text or pictures which upset you in some way, then I would recommend placing a stricter image search on your browser or avoid websites which show pictures you may deem offensive. Instead of letting people take responsibility for personal actions these nanny-state politicians would prefer that they be involved.

All this will create is the ability for more lawsuits to be enacted, wasting the valuable time of the courts, and permitting individuals to pursue the typical get-rich-quick schemes of lawsuit nation. I could type into my browser a certain image and one shows up which I could lie and say is offensive. This way a lawsuit against the creator of the image can be sought. Lawyers will absolutely love this law.

With that said however I cannot foresee this actually going unchallanged by the Tennessee Supreme Court if not the Supreme Court of the United States. Not only because the wording is abhorrent but also because the implications of the law would result in a potential serious strain on state resources.

In regards to the violation of Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution I could not see such violations being upheld even in our present state of standard violations of civil liberty unless of course financial interests of one, or more, large businesses have an invested stake in this action.

reply to post by Vitchilo


That means if someone gets upset over images you posted of Tennessee cops stealing cash or beating the crap out of someone you could go to jail, loose your cash and possibly get beat up in the process.

reply to post by Vitchilo


Why is it that pretty much every law protecting the good old folks "in charge" tends to be retroactive?

The Telecoms that spy on us? Retroactive!

The folks who made beau coup bucks off of our tax-payer dollars during time of war? Retroactive!

Torture? Oh, I'm sorry, I meant to say "enhanced interrogation". Retroactive!

Folks who broke every freakin' International law concerning matters such as torture or war-profiteering? Retroactive!

Whistle-blowers who were promised immunity but denied all rights under our Constitution, let alone the Magna-freaking-Carta? Ha, ha! Denied!

Not only denied, but thrown into jail without counsel.

Anyone else seeing a trend?

God, I must be paranoid. Either that or a member of ATS.

Right is right!
Wrong is wrong!

more government legislation on how to be a better person by force.

stupid is as stupid does.


and on the next episode of legislating morality stay tuned.

Does this mean I can sue for those horrible cute kitten videos that distress me so badly?
Thank God Tennessee understands
This looks like a lawyer's dream come to true to me.
They probably wrote it.

I triple dog dare someone to post an image of this Law!!!