Complying with a 2006 Federal Law to track the Internet usage of convicted sex offenders, a Georgia law is set to take effect on Thursday, January 1, 2009 to not only monitor its offenders web traffic, but requires the submission of personal Internet information as well. Georgia’s 16,000 offenders will be forced to hand over all Internet passwords, screen names and e-mail addresses to officials.
While some are calling Georgia's law “an invasion of privacy”, others see this new aggressive move as "an example of pre-emptive justice."
From msnbc.com
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While some are calling Georgia's law “an invasion of privacy”, others see this new aggressive move as "an example of pre-emptive justice."
From msnbc.com
No one in Georgia has challenged the law yet, but critics say it threatens the
privacy of sex offenders and burdens cash-strapped law enforcement officials.
"There's certainly a privacy concern," said Sara Totonchi of the
Atlanta-based Southern Center for Human Rights. "This essentially will give law
enforcement the ability to read e-mails between family members, between
employers."
State Sen. Cecil Staton, who wrote the bill, said the
measure is designed to keep the Internet safe for children. Authorities could
use the passwords and other information to make sure offenders aren't stalking
children online or chatting with them about off-limits topics.
Staton
said although the measure may violate the privacy of sex offenders, the need to
protect children "outweighs a lot of the rights of these individuals."
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