* BlueNC regular Crowbar317 says the bill appears to be designed to remove protection from libel cases for anonymous bloggers and commenters.
* Greensboro News-Record columnist Doug Clark says it would be hard for bloggers to enforce its provisions on anonymous commenters on their own sites.
* WUNC radio reporter Laura Leslie wonders if Sen. Steve Goss is "carrying water" for other legislators, such as Sens. Julia Boseman or R.C. Soles, who have been targeted by blogs.
* Conservative Watauga Watch blog (sarcastically) takes aim at Goss for tackling "paramount public policy concern" of blogging during rough economic time.
* Conservative blogger Jeff Taylor argues that the bill is so broadly written that it could "criminalize virtually all text message traffic;" says N.C. blogs are tame.
Comments
Re: Quick Hits: Blog libel
February 4, 2009 - 10:34pm — PoliticalJunkiehttp://wilmingtonshame.blogspot.com/
This the blog Goss is after. He ought to know nothing good comes of doing the dirty work of his two disgraced colleagues from SE NC.
Re: Quick Hits: Blog libel
February 4, 2009 - 1:34pm — scharrisonI think Laura's got it right too, especially the part about the fear of torts thing. But unless the criminal (Class II Misdemeanor) aspects of this bill are removed, there's even more at stake here. The fine of one penny might sound like the intent is a "harmless lesson", but the criminal record itself will follow the person forever. Future employment (or advancement) problems, other subsequent civil/criminal proceedings tainted (child custody, etc.), and even aspirations for public office can be snuffed during an ugly campaign.
The best solution to reign in blogs that are "out of control" is total transparency by public officials. When you close the door to that backroom, people are forced to speculate based on limited information. When that speculation is wrong, part of the responsibility lies with those who keep the truth close to their vests.
Thanks for covering this.
February 4, 2009 - 12:11pm — James_ProtzmanI wish I understood the actual proposed legislation better, but since by the sponsor's admission, a big chunk of the draft was a "mistake," it's kind of hard to make sense of it.
I agree that Laura probably has it right. Hard to explain otherwise.
Re: Quick Hits: Blog libel
February 4, 2009 - 11:48am — j1c2kpLaura Leslie probably has that one right.
Re: Quick Hits: Blog libel
February 4, 2009 - 11:38am — ryanteaguebeckwith (author)Missed that one. Added.
— RTB
Re: Quick Hits: Blog libel
February 4, 2009 - 11:24am — jonoflockeJeff Taylor notes the relative tameness of NC's blog culture and says that "the way his bill is written, I think it may criminalize virtually all text message traffic — at least among teen-agers."