Friday, March 29, 2024

State bill punishes online stalkers

October 5, 2000

People found guilty of harassing or stalking people through the Internet in Michigan could be punished with up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000 through a bill the state House passed Wednesday.

The new bill, introduced by Rep. Jim Howell, R-St. Charles, passed through the House unanimously. Both the Department of State Police and the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan support the legislation.

“It’s really tough as things change,” Howell said. “With all the (technological) possibilities, we’re trying to stay ahead of the curve.”

One of the main points of the bill is to stop people from being able to post personal information about others on the Internet with the intent to harm. Information posted without consent could lead to harassment by a third party that has no knowledge of any wrongdoing and could end up doing the dirty work for criminals.

A person could be subjected to someone frequently knocking on the door late at night or of receiving sexual messages in Internet chat rooms and message boards - the bill would increase punishment if the instigator lives in Michigan.

“This issue has been around for a while,” Howell said, speaking from the floor of the House after the vote. “We just expanded the parameters now, with the ability to post information worldwide.

“It’s much bigger than just writing in a bathroom stall.”

The most severe punishments for the online crimes, $10,000 and two years in prison, would come when the victim is under 18 years old and the online stalker is at least five years older.

People found guilty of harassing those older than 18 could be subject to a fine of $2,500 and a possible year in jail. The U.S. Department of Justice has found the chances of being stalked are about one in 10, and that one in 12 women are stalked at some point in their life.

Although supporters are hard pressed to find opponents of the bill, Kimberly Sarbo, an engineering sophomore, said the problem may not be as big as some let on.

“I’ve never had a problem with being harassed through the Internet,” she said. “I don’t know anyone that has.”

The bill did not pass without some concerns being voiced about possible infringements on First Amendment rights. The chance that information posted as commentary on an issue could be abused was discussed before the bill passed.

“The bill was not meant to impair free speech,” Howell said. “I don’t think it was a concern - the vote was 105 to 0.”

The new law exempts Internet and network service providers if the company provides information in good faith and does not have any knowledge of any acts that are committed.

All 50 states in the United States already have anti-stalking laws in place.

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