US government wants bloggers to register

THE US GOVERNMENT is planning to force bloggers who criticise Congress and organise grassroot causes to register themselves or face jail time.

According to GrassrootsFreedom.com, under Section 220 of S. 1, the lobbying reform bill currently before the Senate, bloggers who have more than 500 readers will have to register and report quarterly to Congress just like lobbiests or go to jail.

GrassrootsFreedom.com chairman Richard Viguerie said the new law would create the most expansive intrusion on First Amendment rights ever.

The amendment was introduced by Senator David Vitter and is currently on hold as it seems to have got bogged down in the legislative process. It would be interesting to find a bog that is read by more than 500 people.

More here and here. µ