Soon a New Bill Can Ban Uploading Fight Videos Online

Posted by Shirley Carter
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Apr 18, 2016
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A great hue and cry is made when it is about posting fight videos on social media sites. In the recent past, a video was found on one of the social media websites where one boy was literally stomping on the other while their schoolmates shot the horrendous incidence through their smartphones.

This particular video has made one of the state representatives, Murphysboro’s Terri Bryant, saddened. And in the wake of that distress, she has introduced a bill that can, now, make the act of posting such types of footage online a criminal offense.

The disturbing footage that led to filing the bill


This bill was filed when Bryant saw this footage on Facebook. According to the representative, one 12-year-old was on the ground while the other was literally stomping on him. Instead of helping the victim, the other students were just mute spectators who watched the event and who were even discourteous to record this on their smartphones. By filing the bill, Bryant said that she has sent a message clearly to the people of Illinois that “…it is unacceptable to stage these fights or be a willing bystander.”

The potential charges that the bill can introduce

Now, if this bill is passed, any person—displaying a disorderly conduct by posting such disturbing footage on the Internet—can be arrested on a misdemeanor charge. By uploading such footage, the person will be proved to have the clear intent of condoning or promoting violence.

On learning about the bill, some criminal defense lawyers in Kane County IL, along with a few anti-bullying advocates expressed their concerns that it is, now, possible that innocent children can be charged with misdemeanors, too. Bryant, however, stressed that this bill will only address organized gang-related combats, staged fights, and the popular “knockout games.”

(A few years ago the phrase “knockout game” was defined as notoriety involving an assailant making contact with an unsuspected bystander. This assailant will have the intent to render the innocent bystander unconscious with his/her sucker punch. The videos of such knockout games are commonly found on the Internet; also, such incidents are often videotaped by the assailant’s accomplice. Afterward, such a video find a place for itself on social media sites—especially, YouTube.)

The concerns of the First Amendment

However, not everybody wants this bill to be passed; among those who are in disfavor of this bill include the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois (ACLU). A spokesperson from ACLU said in a statement that this bill directly violates a citizen’s First Amendment rights.

Furthermore, the spokesperson even said that the bill consists of vague language and that it will be tedious for the prosecutors to catch hold of all those who are filming an event of similar nature within the public domain.

Some similar bills, in the past, have been filed; however, they have fallen afoul of the rights stated in the First Amendment. So when it comes to getting charged with a crime that violates the First Amendment rights, it is best to seek the legal advice from one of the attorneys operational in Kane County, IL.

Shirley Carter is a professional writer and have good knowledge about criminal, legal, Fraud Defense, divorce, family law and drink driving laws. He loves to write about legal advice Kane county, Il and criminal defense lawyer Kane county, Il.
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