Online Impersonation
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Using somebody else's name or likeness
to create a website or social networking
account, or sending e-mails, text
messages or instant messages using their
identity
Already illegal in Texas, Mississippi,
Hawaii, New York and California
Laws may soon be passed in Rhode
Island, Washington and New Jersey
California's SB 1411
“This bill would provide that any person who knowingly and
without consent credibly impersonates another actual
person through or on an Internet Web site or by other
electronic means, as specified, for purposes of harming,
intimidating, threatening, or defrauding another person is
guilty of a misdemeanor. The bill would, in addition to the
specified criminal penalties, authorize a person who
suffers damage or loss to bring a civil action against any
person who violates that provision, as specified.”
(d) A violation of subdivision (a) is punishable by a fine not
exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by
imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, or
by both that fine and imprisonment.
Arguments for the law
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In theory, anybody can impersonate celebrities,
politicians, and private citizens like you or me, for fraud
or mischief
Romney campaign created “parody” Twitter accounts for
VP Biden, DNC Chairman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz
Jebidiah Stipe impersonated his ex girlfriend on craigslist
“personals” and gave out her information over e-mail,
resulting in her rape at gunpoint
Daven Lee Nielsen created fake Twitter accounts to
slander the reputation of a woman he had dated and her
daughters
Arguments against the law
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It's difficult to verify the identity of the creator of an
account. More personal information would have to
be provided more often. (and would be vulnerable to
abuse)
When the internet is used as a tool for fraud,
harassment, or other crimes, the perpetrator can be
prosecuted for those crimes already without adding
a separate crime.
Group 10
George LaValle
Deandrea Campbell