Letter To Sen Turbak Berry - HB 1277/1278

Dear Sen Turbak Berry,

I have serious reservations about both these bills. The language is not very specific -- who is the "provider" is my main concern.

My blog is on blogger.com - a South Dakotan is going to sue Google? Or me?  Re the tracking required by 1278, I have absolutely no way to track who leaves anonymous comments on my blogs using blogger, even if I wanted to. I also don't see how you would ever get IP addresses for anonymous commenters about South Dakota issues on Daily Kos (or Free Republic) for that matter.

I honestly find these bills a solution looking for a problem. Internet speech is both weak and powerful because of the anonymity it provides. There are issues here - but I don't think a state law along these lines can help -- largely due to technological barriers to compliance.

These bills just don't address a problem I find pressing... is there an epidemic of slander in the South Dakota blogosphere? 

I think these two articles make some very good points.
http://madvilletimes.blogspot.com/2010/02/hb-1277-south-dakota-legislature.html
http://capjournal.com/articles/2010/02/05/blog/behind_govt_lines/doc4b6ca149d650e913650035.txt

Curtis Price
108 E Centennial St
Rapid City SD 57701
605-390-3053
Robbinsdale Radical blog
http://rr57701.blogspot.com