New Jersey looks at law to ban sex offenders from the internet
While not a complete ban, sex offenders would have to have monitoring software on their systems that the police could have access to. If they are found using unregistered equipment they can be put back in jail, and a host of extensions to the system that would allow for longer jail times, GPS monitoring, and data from dating sites as well that would require that dating sites let people know if they do or do not do a background check on their users.
Under the plan, convicted sex offenders would have to submit to periodic, unannounced examinations of their computer equipment, install equipment on their computer so its use could be monitored and inform law enforcement if they have access to a computer. Those caught using the Internet would face 18 months in jail and a $10,000 fine. Source: nbc10.com
Not that anyone really wants a predator going after his or her kids on the internet; the law being proposed in New Jersey is broad and far-reaching. It will influence many of the dating web sites, and essentially force sex offenders off their own systems an into opportunistic systems like internet café’s, libraries, or other places where there is no monitoring of who is using the systems.
The laws are a good idea, but moving the problem to sites that are not regulated, or a friends house, or anyplace else where it will be difficult to match person to background, to status will drive the issues underground. Alternatively they will simply go out of state, move out of state, or find some other way of working the system to their advantage.
The police are going to be too busy doing other things than to check and see what everyone is up to. The GPS system would help in identifying if someone is somewhere, but many people use the library to just read the paper or read a book, many people have friends that let others use their computers.
Wireless access points that are misconfigured can also be used via a cell phone.
In other words, this one ought to be simple to beat, and people in general will find a way to beat the system. While we like the proposed law, it also has to take into effect better deterrents than more jail time. If anything means “more therapy” it would be a series of laws like this, that while overall good, have too many loopholes that someone can take advantage of.
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