Sex Offenders in Georgia Stripped of Privacy, Must Hand Over Passwords [Telecom]

Sex Offenders in Georgia Stripped of Privacy, Must Hand Over Passwords

Jason Mick January 1, 2009

Privacy advocates concerned about a strict new law in Georgia which removes sex offender's online privacy

The latest scuffle over online privacy is brewing up in Georgia. An aggressive new law is set to take effect today which will force sex offenders to hand over their internet passwords, screen names, and e-mail addresses to the government for monitoring purposes. Several other states also have efforts that track sex offender's email and screen names. However, Georgia, which has 16,000 registered offenders, will be the first state to demand the sex offenders' passwords as well.

A similar law in Utah was already struck down by a federal judge, who ruled that it violated the privacy rights of an offender who challenged it. However, that ruling was rather narrow as it applied to an offender tried on a military conviction who had never been in Utah's court or prison system.

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***** Moderator's Note *****

Hold on to your hats: this is the start of a wild ride up and down the roller coaster of public-opinion. It is a classic case of a Camel's nose under the edge of the shelter that covers our all-important civil right to keep our papers and effects free from unreasonable search and seizure.

Sex offenders? No problem: most voters will say "f*&^ 'em, who cares?". Convicted fellons of all stripes? Rerun previous tape. Persons charged with crimes but not yet convicted? Hmmm.

Once the apparatus needed to monitor someone who , IT WILL BE USED FOR OTHER PURPOSES. Be careful what you wish for: security and freedom both have a price.

Bill Horne Temporary Moderator

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