Supreme Court Rules Sex Offenders Can't Be Barred From Social Media (gizmodo.com)

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Gizmodo: In a unanimous decision today, the Supreme Court struck down a North Carolina law that prevents sex offenders from posting on social media where children might be present, saying it "impermissibly restricts lawful speech." In doing so, the Supreme Court asserted what we all know to be true: Posting is essential to the survival of the republic. The court ruled that to "foreclose access to social media altogether is to prevent the user from engaging in the legitimate exercise of First Amendment rights." The court correctly noted that "one of the most important places to exchange views is cyberspace." The North Carolina law was ruled to be overly broad, barring "access to what for many are the principal sources for knowing current events, checking ads for employment, speaking and listening in the modern public square, and otherwise exploring the vast realms of human thought and knowledge."

Comments

As a formerly registered "sex offender"...

[Anonymous Coward]

As a formerly registered "sex offender" (I plead out because they found a nasty loophole in the law that forced me to make a shitty choice) I have turned a very attentive ear to these issues for a very long time. Ever since the 90s the internet has become an extension of the in-person world and "social media" has become a major component of participation in society at large. These laws that ban sex offenders from social media effectively ban them from society and participation in it, greatly increasing the risk of new crimes. Sex offender laws need to be clawed back. Registration needs to be completely discarded; it has no value when objectively examined over the 25+ years that it has existed and causes more harm than good across the board.

The best way to reform convicts that are not heavily mentally unbalanced (most offenders are one-time offenders and don't go on to have a long rap sheet, after all!) is to help them build social safety nets and positive relationships. To do something other than pursue those specific goals is to intentionally harm society at large.

Re:As a formerly registered "sex offender"...

[swell]

A good friend is on the list. Where I live, anyone can look him up by name or location online. There you will see his photo, current address and a brief description of his 'crime'. Of course he has to keep this data up to date at all times.

"sex offender" seems to be a euphemism for something involving children. I don't think regular rape gets you on the list. Children are special, of course. My friend, during difficulties with his wife, was accused by her of 'touching' their daughter- age around 10. He was convicted without much fuss and put on the 'list'.

The reality is that his wife lied. He was and still is best friends with his daughter- now a young adult and they frequently spend time together. But he remains on the list and there seems no way for him to get off. For the rest of his life he will be branded, in public, and all his neighbors will suspect him if not worse.