Do we Make You Nervous?

Source: Bill Hobbs

Tennessee State Rep. Rob Briley has filed legislation that could, if it becomes law, require bloggers and other website publishers and writers to remove within two days from their website any statement that someone alleges is defamatory - and if they fail to remove the statement within two days that failure will "create a presumption of malice intent." The contested statement does not actually have to be defamatory for the web writer to be required to remove it or face that legal presumption of guilt.

The story goes on to say that the legislation was pulled and will not see the light of day. However, just the mere fact of it's existence should be troubling. The simple fact that someone took the time to draft this law shows the effect bloggers are having, and this when blogs are still chump change. Imagine when blogs start getting the numbers?

Mr Hobbs has much more detail at his site including the identity of the individual who drafted the law.

H/T Toni At Bear Creek Ledger

Technorati Tags: free speech, first amendment, bloggers, blogging, troubling

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