California Prosecutes Man For Posting Anti-Muslim Messages On Facebook

[–] InnocentBystander 2 points (+2|-0)

The charge :

Cal. Penal Code § 653m(b) states that “every person who, with intent to annoy or harass, makes repeated telephone calls or makes repeated contact by means of an electronic communication device … to another person is … guilty of a misdemeanor. Nothing in this subdivision shall apply to telephone calls or electronic contacts made in good faith or during the ordinary course and scope of business.”

This is a harassment case, not speech.
Still a bit dicey, as they are equating facebook comments with direct communication. I'm not sure that is accurate.

[–] jobes [OP] 2 points (+2|-0)

they are equating facebook comments with direct communication

That's the super sketchy part. Making 5 Facebook posts == misdemeanor now? If someone asks 5 loaded questions to someone in a Reddit AMA, will that also be considered harassment now? Tag someone on Twitter 5x and now you are harassing them?

Whatever happened to delete and ignore?

[–] InnocentBystander 3 points (+3|-0)

Edited

If I was his lawyer I'd consider arguing that Facebook is a public forum and not a form of directly targeted contact.
That would make it a (legal) speech issue, instead of an (illegal) harassment one.

Whatever happened to delete and ignore?

Bwahaha.. where've you been?
The Sticks and Stones lesson has been updated, it now goes:

Sticks and stones may break my bones,
but that stuff heals.
Names cause emotional scars that last forever!
And you're Hitler if you disagree!

[–] jobes [OP] 2 points (+2|-0)

My bad, I had a temporary relapse and thought it was 2008 for a few minutes there

California Prosecutes Man For Posting Anti-Muslim Messages On Facebook

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