Representative Ledricka Thierry, D-Opelousas, is trying to get online predators off social
networking sites. When she found in her Acadiana area over 100 sex offenders on
Facebook using their own names, she knew something had to be done. So a year ago, Thierry authored a law to keep
online predators off Internet sites but it was ruled unconstitutional by Baton
Rouge district judge and attorney general’s office. Thierry didn’t forget about the proposed bill, instead
added new legislation to define what social networking is.
The
new bill HB620 states “a social
networking website shall only include those Internet websites the primary
purpose of which is facilitating social interaction with other users of the
website and which allows users to create web pages or profiles about themselves
that are available to the public or other users and offers a mechanism for
communication among users."
"Now
the bill says the primary purpose of the site has to be socializing" and
"there has to be specific intent to be on the site. It's not like you
would get there by randomly searching,” said Thierry. “If you're on MySpace or
Facebook, that's what you were intending to do."
HB620
was approved 97-1 in the House on Monday and is now going to the Senate
Judiciary C Committee for a hearing.
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