CFIF often highlights how the Biden Administration's bizarre decision to resurrect failed Title II "…
CFIF on Twitter CFIF on YouTube
Image of the Day: U.S. Internet Speeds Skyrocketed After Ending Failed Title II "Net Neutrality" Experiment

CFIF often highlights how the Biden Administration's bizarre decision to resurrect failed Title II "Net Neutrality" internet regulation, which caused private broadband investment to decline for the first time ever outside of a recession during its brief experiment at the end of the Obama Administration, is a terrible idea that will only punish consumers if allowed to take effect.

Here's what happened after that brief experiment was repealed under the Trump Administration and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai - internet speeds skyrocketed despite late-night comedians' and left-wing activists' warnings that the internet was doomed:

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="515"] Internet Speeds Post-"Net Neutrality"[/caption]

 …[more]

April 19, 2024 • 09:51 AM

Liberty Update

CFIFs latest news, commentary and alerts delivered to your inbox.
Home Jester's Courtroom Plaintiff Didn't "Like" This Prank
Plaintiff Didn't "Like" This Prank Print
Wednesday, October 23 2013

A middle school assistant principal sued five students and their parents for creating fake social media accounts in his name.

Adam Matot, assistant principal at Judson Middle School in Oregon, charged the students and parents with "cyberbullying" after the fake accounts were used to post material, some of it obscene, which "caused his reputation to be diminished."  Matot was seeking relief under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act ("CFAA") and for defamation of character.  However, the court recently disagreed with Matot's CFAA claim, saying it simply didn't hold up, even under the broad definitions of "unauthorized access."

Judge Michael McShane pointed to precedent that calls on the courts to construe criminal statutes narrowly so as not to unintentionally turn ordinary citizens into criminals, and he found the focus of the statute to apply to hacking rather than the "creation of sweeping internet-policing mandate."

The court also rejected plaintiff's attempt to bring the case under a RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act) claim noting, "Congress did not intend to target the misguided attempts at retribution by juvenile middle schools students against an assistant principal in enacting RICO."

In addition to seeking $5,000 in monetary damages, plus costs and attorneys fees, Matot was also seeking to find that defendants violated CFAA, that their conduct was reckless and willful, and that they be enjoined from using or accessing accounts on Twitter or Facebook for a reasonable period of time.

Source: Techdirt.com

Notable Quote   
 
"Soon the government might shut down your car.President Joe Biden's new infrastructure gives bureaucrats that power.You probably didn't hear about that because when media covered it, few mentioned the requirement that by 2026, every American car must 'monitor' the driver, determine if he is impaired and, if so, 'limit vehicle operation.'Rep. Thomas Massie objected, complaining that the law makes government…[more]
 
 
— John Stossel, Author, Pundit and Columnist
 
Liberty Poll   

Do you mostly approve or mostly disapprove of U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson's plan to introduce foreign aid packages for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan before legislation on U.S. border security?