This article appeared in last Friday’s Austin American statesman and really caught my attention. People are posing as police officers in online blogs and in reader comment sections on local media Internet sites, posting defamatory and possibly libelous statements. It went so far that the website Twitter had to be shut down because someone was posting official Austin Police Department bulletins.
This just baffles me that people would attempt to do something so rude, but it is relatively easy to get away with right now. Hopefully, it won’t be so easy to get away with soon, as a new law went into effect on Sept. 1 making it illegal to post messages on social networking sites with out the owner’s permission when the intent is to “harm, defraud, intimidate, or threaten.” It’s not just a misdemeanor either; it is a third-degree felony. The police have looked into their legal options and are considering opening formal investigations. The sad part is they suspect it might be department employees who posted some of bogus comments.
Read this article!
About Me
- Jo
- I titled my blog "Probing into Politics" because that is exactly what I am doing: exploring this unknown territory that I have found to be quite depressing, highly emotional and full of corruption. My first real dose of politics came with the 2008 election which was the first time that I had been old enough to take an interest. I did not know ANYTHING about the world of politics, so I kept my mouth shut and soaked it in. Unfortunately, my birthday was sixweeks after the registration deadline. My first formal introduction to politics came this summer with Government 2305-an eye opening experience to say the least. I left class in tears many days, but am now considering switching my major to Political Science so I can "help". I am fresh out in the “real world” so I barely know what I like or want, let alone have a strong opinions or an ideology. I am soaking it all in and trying not to get too depressed. I couldn't even give a hint to how I stand because it would be wrong and would change by the end of this course. I am growing and changing, as a person and a political participant, and I am trying to shift through the loads of bullshit to find some truth and a glimmer of hope.
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