Lori Drew, a 49 year-old woman (and mother), has finally been indicted in the Megan Meier suicide case. According to the LA Times, she faces “three counts of accessing protected computers without authorization to obtain information to inflict emotional distress on the girl and one count of conspiracy.” As many of you remember, the authorities in Missouri could not find a statute under which to indict Lori Drew, but now, thankfully, the case has been handed over to federal prosecutors.
I am not a believer in policing internet activity, but I am a believer in preventing harassment, especially the kind that causes severe emotional distress. Lori Drew is a 49 year-old woman who had absolutely no business harassing a young girl on the internet, regardless of her motivation. I’m glad to see that she’s been indicted, and I hope this case becomes an example for future internet harassment cases.
When cases like the Meier suicide don’t get prosecuted, even when we know the identity of the assailant, it sends a message to victims of internet (and in-person) harassment that their pleas for help won’t get any attention when they come forward.
Comments 1
This bugs me.
I agree she needed to be prosecuted, for something, but the fact that it’s for defrauding MySpace bugs me. First of all, I have no idea how strong or weak a case that would be. Even thought he punishment for fraud can be harsh, it really diminishes the crime committed. Also, I worry it can be extended from creeps preying on children to people who use pseudonyms to remain anonymous.
Harassment and stalking laws need to be written clearly for the Internet, though drawing a line between flaming and real harassment, especially when it comes to children (and yes, a teenager is still technically a child). While we don’t want to police behavior, we also don’t want to use existing laws that may be interpreted too broadly.
Though from the links you provide, it bugs me that they aren’t more focused on recognizing depression/suicidal tendencies in teenagers; it’s not necessarily as obvious as it might be for an adult, even for those that live with the person, even if they have a healthy relationship, because often it presents itself as things like hyperactivity, rather than obvious depression. Our society is far too focused on punishment, than real solutions.
Posted 18 May 2008 at 11:46 am ¶Post a Comment
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