Hatch-Biden Bill Cracking Down on Sexual Predators

[PatSeg]

Hatch-Biden Bill Cracking Down on Sexual Predators to be Signed into Law Today

The Bill will:

* Criminalize any threat to damage a computer network, or disclose confidential information illegally obtained from a network;
* Criminalize online conduct that causes limited damage to a large number of computers;
* Prohibit the creation of a bot-net, which a criminal could use to attack online businesses and other computer networks;
* Permit law enforcement to seize computer equipment and other property used to perpetrate computer crimes;
* Authorize the U.S. Sentencing Commission to update their guidelines to reflect the severity of Internet crimes.


"Plain and simple: This legislation will help save children’s lives," said Senator Biden, the top Democrat on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs. "Sexual predators must be tracked and parents have a right to know when these criminals are in their neighborhoods."

http://biden.senate.gov/newsroom/details.cfm?id=259755

[shaniqua6392]

1. This is great news!

Thank you to the Senators for helping to protect our children.

[whistle]

2. If Orin Hatch has his name on the bill it will bring down the internet

[MiniMe]

6. Orin wants Mukasey to go after ordinary porn

I still don't have any idea what ordinary porn is.

[Froward69]

12. I would think

"ordinary porn" would be between two consenting adults. no threesomes, no groups, no same sex, no fetish. pretty much no porn. exactly what the far left and the far right want. they both agree on what to censor. and agree on a whole lot more. funny how neither side realizes that.

[Bitwit1234]

3. I think the sentences for these predators is too light.

We all know that they will never change. I think if they have more than two occurrences they should get at least 50 years to life. Why, because eventually they kill and not just abuse.

[gateley]

4. It's encouraging that two Senators with such diverse platforms come together

on such an important issue. This is terrifying for ALL of us - Dem, Rep, everybody - and we owe our thanks to Sens. Hatch and Biden for taking this step together.

[Alter Ego]

5. Make sure you get the ones hiding in the Senate and House as well.

[jillan]

9. Haha!

[Vickers]

7. "Criminalize any threat to damage a computer network"

Watch your step, RNC.

[Benhurst]

8. Great, so long as it doesn't overheat the tubes and crash the Internet.

[jillan]

10. Another example of Biden working across the aisle to get things done.;

And this needs to be done.

Your picture of Biden with the kids is perfect on this thread :)

[inthebrain]

11. This bill has absolutely NOTHING to do with child predators!!!!

This is another example that Biden is full of shit.

This bill is about invading privacy and protecting corporate interests. Not only that but policing the internet.

Read what it says.

Child molestation and child rape does not occur on the internet. It occurs in the real world.

[philly_bob]

13. Agreed: Five bullet points in OP have nothing to do with child predators.

Maybe it's a bad summary.

Below is excerpt from Biden's press release. The bill seems to mainly involve technical registration requirements for convicted offenders. Fine with me.

The computer connection comes here: "It also adds the "use of the Internet to facilitate or commit a crime against a minor" as an offense that triggers registration."

But wouldn't committing a crime against a minor, by itself, trigger registration? Why make "using the Internet to commit a crime" a crime? And what does "or facilitate" mean, in this context?

I'm really suspicious of politicians waving the bloody flag of 'child predator' to pass anti-porn laws and Internet content restrictions.

I sigh and shrug, somewhat disappointed at Biden, whom I like.

It's like Clinton's flag-burning legislation. Pandering.

---


Here's the excerpt from Biden's press release:

"Specifically, the Hatch-Biden bill tightens existing law by requiring sex offenders to register prior to release from prison. It also adds the "use of the Internet to facilitate or commit a crime against a minor" as an offense that triggers registration.

"In addition, child predators will be required to periodically check in personally with the authorities and update their photographs so law enforcement and parents will know what they look like now. And if a registered sex offender fails to comply with any of the law’s requirements, he or she faces up to 10 years in prison.

"The Adam Walsh Act also fully integrates and expands existing state registration systems so that information will be shared instantly and seamlessly among them.

"'States such as Delaware and Florida have worked hard to build comprehensive and effective statewide registration systems,' said Senator Biden. 'But there are other states that are not as advanced – whose systems are not as sophisticated. We now seek to fully integrate and expand those networks so that communities nationwide will be warned when high-risk offenders come to live among them,' said Biden. Senator Biden is the author of the landmark 1994 crime bill that helped create the first state programs to track and register convicted child molesters. Additionally, he is an original member of the bipartisan Senate Caucus on Missing, Exploited and Runaway Children which was founded last year. This panel is charged with helping to develop legislation on behalf of missing, exploited, and runaway children, and to work with both national and local child advocacy organizations."

[1corona4u]

15. Please explain your comments...

and how this is protecting corporate interest.

Child rape and molestation can be directly linked to the internet. It happens all the time. Sexual predators find the kids online, they neet up with them, then they rape or molest them.

"In a survey conducted by the Intelligence Group, Dateline questioned 500 teenagers across the country, ages 14-18, about their computer habit. When asked if someone they've met online has wanted to meet them in person, 58 percent said "yes" and 29 percent said they've had a "scary" experience online (Most Teens Say They've Met Strangers Online, MSNBC Interactive, April 26, 2006, http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12...T/print/1/displaymode/1098/)."

Now, I doubt they wanted to meet them for cookies and milk...I don't even understand why anyone would dispute this....


http://enough.org/inside.php?id=2UXKJWRY8#6

And, unless you're a sexual predator, I doubt this will impact most people.

[philly_bob]

18. It's an overbroad law, using a "hot-button" issue for other purposes

By all means, catch and prosecute adults who rape and molest minors and change registration rules as necessary.

But this law, according to the summary, goes way beyond that. I'll just take one example. Apparently, it would "Prohibit the creation of a bot-net, which a criminal could use to attack online businesses and other computer networks."

Note the "could use" phrase. It would make something illegal because it "could be used" illegally. By that reasoning, the Internet itself would be illegal because it "could be used" -- and as you point out, often is used -- to harm children. Also notice that the law is talking about protecting "online businesses," here, not children.

The Wikipedia definition of bot-net: "Botnet is a jargon term for a collection of software robots, or bots, which run autonomously and automatically."

There are some zombie nets that are quite harmful, but there are other configurations which are not harmful. I have used bots running autonomously and automatically in my programming. I suspect DU's programmers use more than one computer autonomously and automatically communicating.

Banning harmful bot-nets is a big deal. Done wrong, it could stop important scientific computing and P2P. I'd rather see it done by technical types with pocket protectors than law enforcement types who think they're racing the clock to save endangered children. (Not that I'd characterize Biden that way; I like Biden. But Hatch seems like an intolerant bigot to me.)

Incidentally, friend, there was a generally intolerant -- "Please explain your comments," "I don't understand why anyone would dispute this" and "Unless you're a child predator" -- tone to your message that I found offensive. You feel strongly about protecting children.

So do I.

[1corona4u]

19. My comment wasn't directed at you...

if you look at who I replied to, it was the brain person. And, yes, I am intolerant of the brain person, because, for some unknown reason, he/she likes to trash all Biden threads, as if they have nothing better to do. It's one thing to have an opinion, but to hear this brain person's comments, you'd think Biden was satan. And frankly, I'm tired of seeing Joe be attacked for his votes, when they will NEVER impact the lives of law abiding, hard working, honest citizens. That's the reality.

[philly_bob]

21. My fault or not tracing replies back to the appropriate message.

I share your "intolerance" for the guy who says Biden is always "full of shit."

[philly_bob]

22. Like this?

Pooh-poohing Biden's "Apollo Project" for energy.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3742499#3743159

[PatSeg]

24. Just another attempt to kill every positive thread

Wonder how he has the time!

[1corona4u]

23. No problem...n/t.

[murbley40]

14. kick

[kad7777]

16. BIDEN, getting things done WHILE he's campaigning

Once again, Joe's at work making this country better even while he's campaigning.
How do you not love this guy?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtGCaqOdIJ4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUC8LeZ1hM4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HcXkLbRIWw

[Cha]

17. Yeah, why don't they start

with the goperverts in congress?

[BornagainDUer]

20. More attacks on the Republicans (aka:Groping Old Perverts)

:evilgrin: