FL Governor Signs Vague Internet Identifier Law targeting Sex Offenders
Weekly Update 2017-06-27
Dear Members and Advocates,
Yesterday, Governor Rick Scott signed HB 699 into law. What the bill did was modify the definition of Internet Identifier and defined the term “social Internet communication”. Basically, in addition to registering ones “Internet Identifier”, they must now also register the “website homepage” or “application software name” with the FDLE.
The new definition exempts “Communication for which the primary purpose is the facilitation of commercial transactions involving goods or services”, but what does that mean? One person uses Craigslist to buy and sell stuff (which is clearly for the facilitation of commercial transactions), but the Sheriffs in Central Florida would argue that it’s a dating site. Is it the user’s “primary purpose” or the Sheriff’s “primary purpose”?
The new definition exempts websites on which the “primary purpose” of the website is the dissemination of news, but what does that mean? Many people come to FloridaActionCommittee.org for the “primary purpose” of learning about developments affecting registrants, such as the news of this new law, but does the law consider FloridaActionCommittee.org a “news” website that requires registration?
The point being; the law, even with its new definition, is hopelessly vague and will leave registrants guessing as to what should be registered and what should not be registered and if you guess wrong – you’re facing five years in prison! Aside from vagueness; what business is it of FDLE to know that you were asking about a personal medical condition on WebMD?
Aside from our member’s frustration with the State passing another law that will do nothing to promote public safety (but will surely serve as another trap into which they can ensnare registrants) and imposing another burden on people who have long since paid their debt to society, comes the question; what will happen to the lawsuit filed in the Northern District of Florida? Attorneys in that case are considering the options and we will have an update on that shortly. The State has already filed a Motion to Dismiss the suit in light of the new law, but rest assured the attorneys are on top of things. Please hang tight and we will continue to disseminate NEWS through our website as it becomes available.
It’s incredible to think last week’s update contained the exciting news of the Packingham decision and now this. This challenge is certainly a roller coaster. The good news is a win in the Supreme Court of the United States is much more of an achievement than the setback caused by ill-informed politicians. The other good news is that the fight continues!
Sincerely,
The Florida Action Committee
SOME HEADLINES FROM THIS WEEK
After years of panicked and excessively punitive lawmaking against sex offenders, cooler heads are beginning to prevail. The U.S. Supreme Court, for example, last week struck down a North Carolina law that effectively banned registered sex offenders from using any…
Using ethics loophole, Sen. Lauren Book votes to give her nonprofit $1.5 million
Broward State Sen. Lauren Book voted “yes” last month to approve a state appropriations bill that included $1.5 million for Lauren’s Kids, the nonprofit she founded and leads as its $135,000-a-year chief executive officer. A gaping loophole in Florida Senate ethics…
The Washington Post’s Fact Checker Weighs in on Supreme Court Sex Offender Myths
Here’s an interesting video debunking the myth perpetuated by courts about sex offender recidivism rates. When will they just accept the fact. Sex Offender recidivism rates are VERY LOW!…
New law forces websites to pull mug shots of the acquitted
Gov. Rick Scott signed a bill into law Friday that will require websites that publish mug shots to take them down upon request if the person pictured is not convicted. The new law, which takes effect July 1, also prohibits companies from collecting a fee to remove the…