I agree with the ACLU over President Bush

Journal - Opinions

Yes, I agree with the ACLU and disagree with President Bush. (Right now my Dad is reading this and thinking that the oceans are about to turn to blood and sun will scorch the earth)

President Bush recently signed legislation (H.R. 3402) which, among some other very important things, makes it illegal to anonymously post annoying messages on the internet. This is of course, absurd and would (in any sane court) be overturned as a violation of the first amendment to the constitution, were it ever to be enforced in this context.

The relevant section of the bill redefines a 1934 law creating criminal penalties for "utilizing a telecommunications device, whether or not conversation or communication ensues, without disclosing his identity and with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten, or harass any person.. who receives the communications". It redefines (or clarifies) the term "telecommunications device" to include internet access.

This is clearly an ill-thought amendment because the original law was intended for communications that would be directed to an individual telephone, and so to a person. The amendment was intended to stop harassing e-mails, but as amended, it could be interpreted as applying to communications sent out to the general public (like this journal).

The fact that the legislators had not considered this potential interpretation and made the amendment more clear suggests that it's becoming armature hour on Capital Hill. Nevertheless, it's unlikely that anyone will ever be prosecuted for public comments based on this law, so it will probably remain on the books for another 70 years.