Hidden Nook
"Because in Cyberspace, no one can hear you scream."
Thursday, March 03, 2005
Bloggers losing rights Online?
[Media Source*] (Hat Tip: The Progressive Blog Alliance)
If this law become enacted I may have to leave the country.
Photo from CNET News.com
In just a few months,[Bradley Smith]...warns, bloggers and news organizations could risk the wrath of the federal government if they improperly link to a campaign's Web site. Even forwarding a political candidate's press release to a mailing list, depending on the details, could be punished by fines.
Ironically the only reason this is happening is because Smith (along with two Republicans on the Federal Election Commission) could not persuade the other three members on their board (who happen to be Democrats) to "appeal the Internet-related sections" of the 2002 campaign finance law. They better have good reasons for refusing this appeal...
...because I would hate for this law to pass because of someone's lack of intelligence on the issue. I am not a lawblogger, but I'm sure this law would be appealed if passed, but Smith gives us the scoop on the issue:
Q: Why wouldn't the news exemption cover bloggers and online media?
A: Because the statute refers to periodicals or broadcast, and it's not clear the Internet is either of those. Second, because there's no standard for being a blogger, anyone can claim to be one, and we're back to the deregulated Internet that the judge objected to. Also I think some of my colleagues on the commission would be uncomfortable with that kind of blanket exemption.
This is only an excerpt, but I encourage you to read the rest here. Selah!
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By Darnell Clayton ⢠3:21 PM ⢠Email Post ⢠â¢
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