[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 120 (Sunday, August 21, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 21, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                THE ELECTRONIC ANTI-STALKING ACT OF 1994

                                 ______


                           HON. KWEISI MFUME

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Sunday, August 21, 1994

  Mr. MFUME. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing the Electronic Anti-
Stalking Act of 1994.
  The Electronic Anti-Stalking Act would amend section 223, title 47 of 
the United States Code which prohibits the use of a telephone to annoy, 
abuse, threaten, or harass any person. The act would extend 
``telephone'' to mean any communications by means of computer modem or 
any other two-way wire or radio telecommunications device.
  This new era of emerging technologies and expanding communications 
capabilities brings with it unforeseen innovations in how individuals 
conduct their professional and personal business. These new 
technologies bring us the benefits of efficiency, speed, accuracy, and 
access to unlimited sources of information. The information 
superhighway will soon become a reality accessible to all American 
citizens, and will provide our economy with renewed growth.
  Along with these and other benefits from the new information 
superhighway, come the dangers of abuse and misuse. Last spring, a man 
stalked a woman in Michigan via E-mail stating, among other things, 
that ``this letter thing is the least of many things I could do to 
annoy you.''
  Mr. Speaker, there have been numerous other reports of harassing and 
threatening messages.
  The information superhighway has the ability to improve the quality 
of life for all Americans. Men and women should be able to utilize this 
new technology in a safe and nonthreatening environment. The Electronic 
Anti-Stalking Act will enable users of electronic communications to 
travel the information highway free of harassing and threatening 
messages.

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