The Register (oddly enough) reports that Congress is trying to pass legislation that will force all U.S. residents to go to jail for seven years and pay a $150,000 fine if, when you register your domain name, you don't tell the world your email, home address, and telephone number. H.R. 3754 (PDF) was introduced this morning on the House floor by Lamar Smith (R-TEX). Stalker lobbyists are reported to be stuffing Mr. Smith's garter strap with twenties.
[UPDATE: I misreported the implications of this bill. The seven years is tacked onto a felony charge. As the bill itself states, "The maximum imprisonment otherwise provided by law for a felony offense shall be increased by 7 years if, in furtherance of that offense, the defendant knowingly provided material and misleading false contact information to a domain name registrar...." That's what I get for falling prey to the Register's paranoid copy.]
Posted by DrMabuse at February 5, 2004 03:30 PMHopefully only in "Amerika"...Though here in OZ the tendancy is to follow on with anything Uncle says it wants. The penalties would of course have to be made more severe as we are fond of punishment, being a former penal colony and all.
I can only see that big $ RULE..OK?
Lance