Ordinance passed regarding web-harassment

November 22nd, 2007

Table of contents for megan

People do cruel things
‘Internet death’ prompts area city to mull law
Ordinance passed regarding web-harassment
Protest held outside home of family that some blame in suicide

One hopes that this has been carefully worded and is not just a knee-jerk reaction to publicity. This seems very quick for an ordinance to be passed, at least one that studies the issue carefully and defines the terms correctly. I don’t want people getting $500 fines for flaming people – that’s an over-reaction. Though I agree that inciting someone to suicide via internet needs some kind of legal bitch slap, of course.

STLtoday – News – St. Charles

DARDENNE PRAIRIE — City officials declared online harassment a crime Wednesday, fewer than two weeks after they learned of a 13-year-old girl who killed herself after receiving hurtful messages on a popular website.The Board of Aldermen unanimously passed an ordinance making online harassment a misdemeanor in this city of about 5,500.

“It is our hope that by supporting one of our own in Dardenne Prairie, we can do our part to ensure this type of harassing behavior never happens again, anywhere,” said Mayor Pam Fogarty. “After all, harassment is harassment regardless of the mechanism or tool.”

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Filed under: crime, St. Louis Stuff | Comments (3)

3 Responses to “Ordinance passed regarding web-harassment”

Heidi on November 22, 2007 9:47 pm
Yeah, I think it’s a good step, but it sounds like they freaked out going “wait, that’s not illegal? make it illegal right now!”

I still haven’t gotten my brain around the neighbor wanting to harass and humiliate a little kid. :-(
SuperBadGirl on November 22, 2007 11:17 pm
Luckily neither has the rest of the nation, it seems like. The Mom was on the Today show this week. I am glad that people still get outraged about stuff.
Heidi on November 22, 2007 11:58 pm
I’m glad it’s not just us.