The InformationWeek -- Blogs
Digital Life

Topics:   Digital Life : Digital Life

  • Email this page E-mail this page
  • Print this page Print this page
  • Bookmark and Share
  • icon

Political Bloggers Could Be Required To Register Or Face Jail Time


Posted by Mitch Wagner, Jan 17, 2007 07:22 PM

Update (1/19/2006): This bill does not affect bloggers. The initial report by GrassRootsFreedom.com is, quite simply, false. See posts by my colleague Paul McDougall and me for more info. An outfit called GrassRootsFreedom.com is reporting that the U.S. Senate is considering legislation that would require political bloggers with readership over 500 to register as lobbyists. If they fail to register, they could face criminal penalties up to one year in jail.

"Section 220 of S. 1, the lobbying reform bill currently before the Senate, would require grassroots causes, even bloggers, who communicate to 500 or more members of the public on policy matters, to register and report quarterly to Congress the same as the big K Street lobbyists. Section 220 would amend existing lobbying reporting law by creating the most expansive intrusion on First Amendment rights ever. For the first time in history, critics of Congress will need to register and report with Congress itself," according to a statement from GrassRootsFreedom.com

Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) introduced an amendment Jan. 9 "to create criminal penalties, including up to one year in jail, if someone 'knowingly and willingly fails to file or report.'" But Vitter is now co-sponsoring Amendment 20, with Sen. Robert Bennett (R-Utah), to remove Section 220 from the bill, GrassRootsFreedom.com says.

GrassRootsFreedom.com says:

The legislation regulates small, legitimate nonprofits, bloggers, and individuals, but creates loopholes for corporations, unions, and large membership organizations that would be able to spend literally hundreds of millions of dollars, yet not report.

Congress is trying to blame the grassroots, which are American citizens engaging in their First Amendment rights, for Washington's internal corruption problems."

(Via Slashdot)

« Communication Breakdown | Main | Mobile Enterprise Takes Off In Latin America »



Sign Up Now
For InformationWeek News Alerts




This is a public forum. United Business Media and its affiliates are not responsible for and do not control what is posted herein. United Business Media makes no warranties or guarantees concerning any advice dispensed by its staff members or readers.

Community standards in this comment area do not permit hate language, excessive profanity, or other patently offensive language. Please be aware that all information posted to this comment area becomes the property of United Business Media LLC and may be edited and republished in print or electronic format as outlined in United Business Media's Terms of Service.

Important Note: This comment area is NOT intended for commercial messages or solicitations of business.




 
Digital Life Video


  1. Actors, Messages and Low Lock Contention for Java
  2. Of Course The Transformers are Multicore with SMT technology
  3. Find John Fast!!


Join The InformationWeek Group On LinkedIn


                           


  1. Why I'm Dropping Bing For Google
  2. 3G iPhone Burns User
  3. 64-Bit Firefox: What's Your Hurry?
  4. So Long, And Thanks, Google Earth, For All The Fish
  5. Windows 7 Pricing: How Much Lower?


  1. Review: Apple's Speedy iPhone 3GS
  2. Tech Innovation USA: From Resilient Networks To Self-Scheduling Devices
  3. How Government's Driving Cloud Computing Ahead
  4. Government As Early Adopter
  5. InformationWeek Analytics: Data Loss Prevention
  6. Strategic Security: Web Single Sign-On

 

  Ars Technica
Boing Boing
Channel 9 Forums
CRN Blogs
Dr.Dobb's Portal: Blogs
Engadget
Gizmodo
GrokLaw
  Lifehacker
Schneier on Security
Slashdot
TechCrunch
Techdirt
Techmeme
Valleywag

  DECEMBER 2008
NOVEMBER 2008
OCTOBER 2008
SEPTEMBER 2008
AUGUST 2008
JULY 2008
JUNE 2008
MAY 2008
  APRIL 2008
MARCH 2008
FEBRUARY 2008
JANUARY 2008
DECEMBER 2007
NOVEMBER 2007
OCTOBER 2007
SEPTEMBER 2007