A bill, introduced yesterday:
FIRST REGULAR SESSION
HOUSE BILL NO. 696
97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLYINTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES CORNEJO (Sponsor), PARKINSON, HICKS AND SOMMER (Co-sponsors).
1786L.01I D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
To amend chapter 565, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to the offense of impersonation of an actual person by electronic means, with a penalty provision.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapter 565, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be known as section 565.093, to read as follows:
565.093. 1. As used in this section, the following terms shall mean:
(1) “Electronic means”, includes opening an email account, an instant messaging account, or an account or profile on a social networking internet website in another person’s name, or changing or otherwise manipulating the system metadata to identify another person’s name;
(2) “System metadata”, automatically generated information about the source, or author or authors of an electronically created or stored file or document.
2. A person commits the offense of impersonation of an actual person by electronic means if such person knowingly and without consent credibly impersonates another actual person through or on an internet website or by other electronic means for purposes of harming, intimidating, threatening, or defrauding another person.
3. For purposes of this section, an impersonation is credible if another person would reasonably believe or did reasonably believe that the defendant was or is the person who was impersonated.
4. Any person who commits the offense of impersonation of an actual person by electronic means is guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
5. Nothing in this section shall be construed as precluding prosecution under any other law.
[emphasis in original]
“…A person commits the offense of impersonation of an actual person by electronic means if such person knowingly and without consent credibly impersonates another actual person through or on an internet website or by other electronic means for purposes of harming, intimidating, threatening, or defrauding another person…”
Sarcasm and satire would still be okay, right?:
Fake Vicky Hartzler @VickiHartzler
New poll shows that people are OK with cutting the military. I’ll still try to cut SS instead. [….] 3:28 PM – Feb 25, 2013
Then again, putting “Fake” before a name probably wouldn’t make it a credible impersonation.
Creating a fake person for the purpose of catfishing…?
Update:
Via Twitter:
Rep. Mark Parkinson @markparkinson
@MBersin despite your wild conspiracy theory, here is the reason behind H.B. 696 [….] 6:11 PM – Feb 26, 2013
“…wild conspiracy theory…”
Conspiracy theory? We just posted the bill and asked a few questions, while pointing a little sarcasm in the direction of Representative Vicky Hartzler (r). What’s not to like?