Missouri Proposes Web Harassment Law

Inspired By Teen's Suicide After Web Taunts, Panel Wants Adult Harassers Charged With Felony

(AP)  Adults who use the Internet to harass children could be charged with a felony if Missouri lawmakers agree with a proposal made Tuesday by a state panel formed after a taunted teenager's suicide.

Gov. Matt Blunt's task force on Internet harassment met for the final time, putting the finishing touches on a plan that will be submitted to the governor. Committee members did not say when a final draft would be ready.

Blunt created the task force last month after news accounts about the case of Megan Meier, a 13-year-old suburban St. Louis girl who committed suicide after receiving cruel messages on her MySpace page. The task force includes public safety and mental health professionals, lawyers and legislators.

Harassment is already a misdemeanor in Missouri, but the proposal identifies certain types of harassment that task force members believe should result in stiffer penalties. It also includes other types of media, not just the Internet.

"Initially, we started down a path of creating a crime of cyberharassment. Instead, we decided to broaden the harassment law to include any communication. That picks up technology now and picks up technology in the future," said task force chairman Mark James.

Panelists identified factors that would make certain harassment cases a felony, such as if anyone 21 or older harasses people 17 and younger. Those convicted could be sentenced to as many as four years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

Task force members also proposed a requirement that schools report stalking or harassment - including cyberharassment - to law enforcers if it happens on school property or during a school activity.

The law would not hold responsible businesses that provide Internet service or social networking Web sites like MySpace, said James, who leads the state Department of Public Safety.

Megan's suicide occurred in October 2006 but drew attention last year after her mother went public. The teen thought she was communicating online with a teenage boy named Josh, who turned out to be a fictional character in a hoax. A neighborhood mother, Lori Drew, and two girls played a role in the hoax.

Prosecutors declined to charge anyone, in part because no specific laws appeared to apply. But some communities, including Megan's hometown of Dardenne Prairie, have adopted or are considering adopting laws to go after those involved in Internet bullying.

Drew's attorney, Jim Briscoe, has said the girls designed the fictional boy's account and sent the messages to Megan. Drew wasn't aware of the hurtful messages sent just prior to Megan's suicide, he has said. Other Internet users also joined in with cruel taunts before her death.

[denn034]

Next, it''ll be promoting a Web Elimination law! Don''t get me wrong, what happened to that girl was wrong but, let''s not overreact by limiting everyone''s freedoms because of a few bad apples.

[likeitis5050]

Oh, goodie...another law the ACLU can play ping pong with on pick and choose basis. Good grief. Aren''t lawsuits just as effective, considering the ones with money get away with breaking laws anyway? In the case sited, both families were accountable...it''s a crime what happened to this child, but her parents are by no means innocent.

[michellem99-2009]

I post on a site in the UK and there are rules and WE stick to them. The bullying harassing is not allowed. I WILL STAND UP FOR MY SELF. I use to live in MO. When yer think about their is not need to bully. I try to mind my manners as yer person and we may have an online name. I know the mindset of bullies. Minors could feel safe as we should.

[CBSTV]

We don''t need more laws. Use the ones already in existence.

[godseyesore-2009]

There should be severe legal punishment for this kind of activity. Drew and the 2 girls are idiots with hateful minds. They should be OUT of the gene pool.

[rf35]

Yep, Drew and the girls should face some consequences for their actions. Also, Meier''s parents should be charged with criminal negligence and child endangerment. With the tools available today, there is no excuse for parents not to know what their children are doing and being exposed to on-line.

[iuproducer]

actually, this article is a bit incomplete. Megan''s parents had taken away most of her internet privileges and had just given them back. They were very careful with what she looked at on the web and monitored her usage very carefully--know your facts!

[rf35]

In that case, I guess the taunts were not all that hurtful in her parents opinion and she was just a nut job.

[finewoven]

"adopted or are considering adopting laws to go after those involved in Internet bullying."
Because turning off the computer and walking away is not an option??!!

Bullying requires a certain degree of persuasiveness--like someone pushing you or yelling at you. This is is absurd.

[finewoven]

the taunts were not all that hurtful in her parents opinion and she was just a nut job.
Posted by rf35 at 12:52 PM : Jan 09, 2008

I totally agree with you. Sometimes you must stand-up for yourself, and not do the nut job thing like killing yourself. She was soooo sensitive, someone on-line hurt her feelings. Where is self-esteem these days? Where is self-confidence and self determination? Sticks and stones . . .etc.

[tomanyt]

Knee-jerk reaction!! Typical!!!!!!!!

[bookangel566]

I''m not saying that what this girl did was right, suicide is a rash thing to do, but obviously some people don''t understand how much of an effect a friends opinion can have on someone. If someone you care about is putting you down (even on the internet) it gets to you, and it hurts. She might have been sensitive, but those who call her a nut case are wrong.

It doesn''t matter is she''s sensitive, those 3 woman still drove her towards suicide, and that itself should be enough to prosecute them. I don''t know much about laws, but honestly, the poor girl was harrassed and driven suicidal. And now she''s dead. All because 3 twisted people thought they could make up a false person and befriend and then harrass this girl.

[kmill61]

i think the actions of the drews is childish and it has inspired me to never have that happen again i''m laching an anti cyber bullying campain for my local high school

[kmill61]

yea plus the drews should have gave her gun because they assited in megan Meier suicide for theis they should be in prison for at least about 6 years. just htink tina will never be able to say honey how was shool becuase of there actions