Protecting the Free Flow of Information

Next week, the Maine Legislature's Judiciary Committee is going to hold two days of hearings on a new Maine law with potentially disastrous consequences for the free flow of information.  The law, which was intended only to protect children from predatory marketing, goes far further, and it could potentially mean the end of Facebook and other social networking sites in Maine.  The bill also has the potential to restrict the ability of teenagers to seek out information about their own health and development, such as exercise advice or tips about healthy diets, or more serious information about protection from domestic violence or drug addiction.  I saw "potential," because currently the law has been enjoined by the Federal Court, which expressed serious doubt regarding the constitutionality of the law.  The hearings will be streamed over the internet, so anyone can listen, and the Judiciary Committee has developed a website to host public comments.  The ACLU of MAINE has submitted comments to the Committee, and will be testifying next week, urging the Committee to repeal this law and go back to the drawing board.

October 9, 2009

Next week, the Maine Legislature's Judiciary Committee is going to hold two days of hearings on a new Maine law with potentially disastrous consequences for the free flow of information. The law, which was intended only to protect children from predatory marketing, goes far further, and it could potentially mean the end of Facebook and other social networking sites in Maine. The bill also has the potential to restrict the ability of teenagers to seek out information about their own health and development, such as exercise advice or tips about healthy diets, or more serious information about protection from domestic violence or drug addiction. I saw "potential," because currently the law has been enjoined by the Federal Court, which expressed serious doubt regarding the constitutionality of the law. The hearings will be streamed over the internet, so anyone can listen, and the Judiciary Committee has developed a website to host public comments. The ACLU of MAINE has submitted comments to the Committee, and will be testifying next week, urging the Committee to repeal this law and go back to the drawing board.