Requiring sex offenders to register IM names and email addresses
I just wrote a post over at Computerworld entitled The Security of Web 2.0 – an Oxymoron. Then I find this story about Senators McCain and Schumer proposing legislation that will require sex offenders to register their IM names and email addresses. I need to read more about this bill. Like typical security legislation passed by our government, this one appears on the surface to be nothing but security theater and something else to boost Schumer and McCain’s appeal before the presidential elections.
Think about it. How difficult is it to create a different IM name or email address?
The registration provisions would make failure to notify the authorities of all e-mail addresses a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
Uhhh, so? These perverts are already breaking the law and facing jail time and some serious nastiness in the big house (child molesters supposedly don’t fair well in prison – though I have no proof of that). What makes anyone think they are going to change their ways because of another law?
Don’t get me wrong. I am fully on board for catching these “people”. I have children and would unleash all hell if one of these sick, twisted individuals even came close to one of my kids. But another law on the books that effectively does nothing to help the situation is just words on paper. Just make the behavior illegal (which it is) and make the punishment such that if the perv is caught he never sees the light of day again (there are a couple of punishments that would fit that description – you decide which one is right for you).
Vet
