Tennessee Bans Posting 'Offensive' Images Online

Chaonici writes "Last Monday, Tennessee's Governer Bill Haslam signed a law prohibiting the transmission or display of an image that is likely to 'frighten, intimidate or cause emotional distress to' anyone who sees it. In Tennessee, it is already illegal to use other methods of communication, such as telephones or e-mail, to offend someone; the new law updates legislation to include images sent or posted online. However, the scope of this law is broader, in that anyone who sees the image is a potential victim. If a court finds that a violator should have known that someone would be offended by the image in question, they face up to a year in prison or up to $2,500 in fines."

Comments

TN lawmakers find THIS image totally innocent

[davidwr]

I'm sure some in the Tennessee leg finds this image NOT offensive in the least - they'd like to see more of it!

Re:Someone got a picture of the law?

[Anonymous Coward]

Google search. It's probably been done.

Re:How about newspapers?

[canajin56]

The law requires that the image be intended to cause harm, and have absolutely no other purpose whatsoever at all. Newspapers are safe unless they start publishing pictures for no other purpose than to intimidate or threaten people (Oh, did you think the law said offend? that was made up by Ars Technica to get you offended!)

Re:I'm so confused

[hairyfeet]

Don't forget this is also the state where they passed a "don't say gay" bill, like not saying the word will magically make gay teens straight. Pretty sad considering all the press about that 13 year old who committed suicide over being bullied for being gay. I did enjoy Star Trek's George Takei and his take on it, if you haven't seen it his advice is to just say Takei. I think I may buy one of the shirts the rainbow Star trek logo is kinda cute.

As someone who live in AR allow me to say, keep it up TN! You may us look less backward all the time! While you are passing crazy laws like this and the don't say gay bill we've gotten too large and very nice gay communities in our two largest cities, we have a nice symphony and plays in the park, if you haven't come down it is actually quite nice here now. So keep it up TN, you make us look better every day. And Go Hogs!