AB603: Bill Text

LRB-4047/1

CMH:jld

2017 - 2018 LEGISLATURE

2017 Assembly BILL 603

October 27, 2017 - Introduced by Representatives Kulp, Quinn, Tittl, Kolste, Berceau, Subeck, Neylon, Spreitzer and Spiros, cosponsored by Senators Bewley and Olsen. Referred to Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety.

AB603,1,3 An Act to amend 947.0125 (2); and to create 947.0125 (4) of the statutes; relating to: impersonation of another on social media and providing criminal penalties.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under this bill, an individual is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor if he or she impersonates another in an email or on a social network or other social media (commonly known as “catfishing”) with the intent to frighten, intimidate, harm, threaten, abuse, harass, defraud, or obtain a benefit if a reasonable person would believe that the impersonator was the individual being impersonated.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB603,1 Section 1. 947.0125 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB603,1,7 947.0125 (2) Whoever, with the intent to frighten, intimidate, harm, threaten, abuse, harass, defraud, or obtain a benefit, does any of the following is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor:

AB603,2,4 (a) With intent to frighten, intimidate, threaten, abuse or harass another person, Posts or sends a message to the a person on an electronic mail or other computerized communication system and in that message threatens to inflict injury or physical harm to any person or the property of any person.

AB603,2,9 (b) With intent to frighten, intimidate, threaten, abuse or harass another person, Posts or sends a message on an electronic mail or other computerized communication system with the reasonable expectation that the a person will receive the message and in that message threatens to inflict injury or physical harm to any person or the property of any person.

AB603,2,13 (c) With intent to frighten, intimidate, threaten or abuse another person, Posts or sends a message to the a person on an electronic mail or other computerized communication system and in that message uses any obscene, lewd or profane language or suggests any lewd or lascivious act.

AB603,2,18 (d) With intent to frighten, intimidate, threaten or abuse another person, Posts or sends a message on an electronic mail or other computerized communication system with the reasonable expectation that the a person will receive the message and in that message uses any obscene, lewd or profane language or suggests any lewd or lascivious act.

AB603,2,22 (e) With intent to frighten, intimidate, threaten or abuse another person, Posts or sends a message to the a person on an electronic mail or other computerized communication system while intentionally preventing or attempting to prevent the disclosure of his or her own identity.

AB603,3,2 (f) While intentionally preventing or attempting to prevent the disclosure of his or her identity and with intent to frighten, intimidate, threaten or abuse another person, , posts or sends a message on an electronic mail or other computerized communication system with the reasonable expectation that the a person will receive the message.

AB603,2 Section 2. 947.0125 (4) of the statutes is created to read:

AB603,3,11 947.0125 (4) (a) Whoever, with intent to frighten, intimidate, harm, threaten, abuse, harass, defraud, or obtain a benefit, uses a name, voice, signature, photograph, or other likeness that does not belong to him or her to post or message on social media, on a social network, or in a message sent on an electronic mail or other computerized communication system, regardless of whether the name, voice, signature, photograph, or other likeness belongs to an actual person, if a reasonable person would believe that the actor is the other person, is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor.

AB603,3,14 (b) Paragraph (a) does not apply if the person being impersonated under par. (a) is an actual person who has given consent to be impersonated or, in the case of a minor being impersonated, if the minor's parent or guardian has given consent.

AB603,3,15 (c) Paragraph (a) does not apply to satire or parody.

AB603,3,16 (End)