[Air-l] how to pin down web 2.0 | regulations issue

[Paul DiPerna]

The longer it takes for DOPA (and state-level bills) to be passed..
which someday will probably happen in some form or another... the
better it bodes for politicians/legislators (and staffers) to be
educated on how social networking technologies, and more generally, how
social websites work.

 Here is a recent update on where things stand on Capitol Hill:
 http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9595_22-6176950.html

At the state level, most bills introduced in state legislatures this
year seek to directly punish the online predators rather than the
website provider...  CT Attorney General Richard Blumenthal has hyped
publicly that "10 to 20 states are considering legislation", and then
more recently "44 states", but I haven't seen evidence of these bill
introductions on State Net, a comprehensive database for state
legislatures and their activities.

My understanding is that Blumenthal is the co-chair for a national task
force on the subject, so the story is not being conveyed accurately.. 
There are more than 40+ states represented in Blumenthal's task force,
but the body doesn't have any direct legislative influence.  It is a
blue ribbon commission with no formal law-making power.

Connecticut did introduce a bill in committee in March.  And there are
several other states (GA, NC, IL, NY) that have introduced similar
Connecticut-styled bills.  As others have said, bill sponsors look to
regulate websites with social networking technologies, requiring
parental consent for minors to register and post a profile.. a couple
bills would ban access to social network sites in elementary and
secondary schools, as well as public libraries.

Right now we hear a lot of public rhetoric by politicians and the
attorneys general, and there is coercion by way of legislative *threat*
... but it will probably be a while before a majority of states
seriously consider adopting major regulations for sites with social
networking capabilities.  And preemptive actions taken by MySpace,
Facebook, and others, may fend off harsh regulations in the future.


 - Paul


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Paul DiPerna
Blau Exchange
http://www.blauexchange.org
online ID: http://claimid.com/pdiperna