BOSTON -- A coalition of Internet content providers and free-speech advocates told a federal judge Tuesday that a new Massachusetts law aimed at protecting children from online sexual predators effectively bans anything that may be considered "harmful to minors," including material adults have the right to view.
Supporters say the new law closes a loophole that led the state's highest court to overturn the conviction of a man accused of sending sexually explicit instant messages to someone he believed was a 13-year-old girl. The Supreme Judicial Court found that the old state law that imposes criminal penalties for disseminating material harmful to minors did not cover electronic communications.
The new law was passed quickly by the state Legislature after the high court's ruling in February. It added instant messages, text messages, e-mail and other electronic communications. Penalties include to up to five years in prison or a fine of as much as $10,000 for a first offense.
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