August 19, 2011
(WNS) — The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is seeking to block a Louisiana law banning convicted sex offenders from using social networking sites, such as Facebook and MySpace.
The law — signed by Gov. Bobby Jindal in June — took effect Aug. 15. The ACLU contends it is “vague” and “overly broad.” The group represents a man who served four years in prison on child pornography charges who now does computer repair; the ACLU says the law means he could lose his job, which requires him to use the Internet.
Earlier this year, federal officials busted the world’s largest international child porn ring; prosecutions will take place in Louisiana.
Meanwhile, Jindal minced no words in declaring his intent to fight the challenge.
“This lawsuit is a disturbing break from reality, even for the ACLU,” he said. “It is frankly insulting for the ACLU to claim it is a convicted sex offender’s ‘First Amendment right’ to use Facebook, MySpace and Craigslist.
“I will fight this with everything I have. If these people want to search the Internet for new victims, they can do it somewhere else.”
