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Dismissal in MySpace suicide case could spark new cyber-bullying crackdown

A federal judge’s recent decision to dismiss charges against Lori Drew in the "MySpace suicide" case is already fueling an attempt to enact a new federal cyber-bullying law, MediaPost.com reports. "This decision is disappointing, but is a direct example of why we need laws to address new crimes like cyber bullying," Rep. Linda Sanchez, D-Calif., said in a statement issued after the case was dismissed. (See "Cyber-bullying conviction could be tossed." [1]) Sanchez recently proposed a law, the "Megan Meier Cyber Bullying Prevention Act," that would criminalize online harassment. Drew, an adult Missouri resident, was prosecuted for allegedly violating a federal computer fraud law by helping to hatch a plan to create a fake profile of a boy, "Josh," who sent messages to 13-year-old Megan Meier. The messages, flirtatious at first, eventually turned hurtful. Megan hanged herself after receiving a final message from "Josh" that the world would be a better place without her…

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