# Fuck everything about this ("Congress contemplates draconian punishment for Internet lies.")
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-everything-about-this-congress-contemplates-draconian-punishment-for-internet-lies/596541
**Category:** The BBQ Pit
**Created:** [September 16, 2011, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-everything-about-this-congress-contemplates-draconian-punishment-for-internet-lies/596541 "2011-09-16T18:21:55Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)
#### Post date: [September 17, 2011, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-everything-about-this-congress-contemplates-draconian-punishment-for-internet-lies/596541/21 "2011-09-17T18:17:55Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#):
>
> [non-pit-response]Given the fluidity of technology, the limitations of language, and the glacial pace of updating/revising legislation, how would you (the general you) write the law?
I cannot speak for him of course.
I guess what I am missing is why crimes are distinguished by the means to commit them.
If I commit fraud then there should be a law covering that type of fraud. Does it matter if I did it over the phone or the mail or the internet or in person?
Maybe you could make a case it does but I’d say levy a penalty for the fraud itself regardless of the means to carry it out. Then add additional penalties for using the US Mail (laws for abusing that are pretty strict). If lawmakers think abusing someone via the internet is a lesser crime than abusing the US Mail fine…get an added penalty for using the internet but something less than the US Mail. If they think it is the same then make it the same. Whatever…
So:
1. Penalty for fraud = X
2. Penalty for using the US Mail = Y
Possible time in jail = X+Y
And so on…
If a new tech comes along there is no need for new laws unless you want to make an additional penalty for using the new tech. In the case of the US Mail the government really, really wanted people to be able to rely on it and made it a Big Deal to use the postal service to commit a crime. Same could be done for other means…or not as they see fit.
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### Author:  [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)
#### Post date: [September 18, 2011, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-everything-about-this-congress-contemplates-draconian-punishment-for-internet-lies/596541/22 "2011-09-18T11:35:12Z")
> [@Bayard](#):
>
> This is probably the most disengenuous bullshit to appear in the WSJ since yesterday.
All too true.
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### Author:  [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)
#### Post date: [September 18, 2011, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-everything-about-this-congress-contemplates-draconian-punishment-for-internet-lies/596541/23 "2011-09-18T13:40:30Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#):
>
> [non-pit-response]Given the fluidity of technology, the limitations of language, and the glacial pace of updating/revising legislation, how would you (the general you) write the law?
I will answer honestly and say I don’t really know. But I don’t see a reason why adding a computer or “on the Internet” should act as a multiplier. Similarly, look at what’s happened with patents. It seems like people have been able to patent $realworldanalog-on-the-Internet and enforce them. I honestly am not sure how any computer patent is valid, seeing as how mathematics cannot be patented.
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