Decius wrote:

A bill has been proposed in the Georgia State Senate which would require social networking websites, possibly including MemeStreams, to verify that minors who create accounts have parental permission. In practice this would mean that any Georgia website, no matter how benign, which allows users to create profiles, would be required to implement as yet undefined age validation procedures for all new users.

We believe that this proposal is a bad idea for a number of different reasons. We composed the following open letter to the sponsors of the legislation in an attempt to articulate our concerns.

BTW, If you are a Georgia resident and you are concerned about this issue, a polite and respectful letter to members of the Senate Science and Technology Committee wouldn't hurt.

Decius,

First and foremost, great response, and awesome pickup.

2ndly, isn't this a matter that would impinge upon internet commerce? and therefore out of the state's jurisdiction? (I mean, I'm no lawyer either, but...) it seems that Georgia now thinks that it can REGULATE the internet. Or perhaps, only it's own "tubes" to and from the internet...

This is one of the dumbest wastes of taxpayer dollars in quite some time.

RE: MemeStreams response to Georgia Senate Bill 59 - 2007