Because Of Online Pranks, German Politician Recommends Kids Get Internet Licenses

from the say-what-now? dept

There have been various stories in the press about people using Facebook to set up small parties, in which they accidentally make the invite public. Hilarity ensues as thousands RSVP and attend. One of the big stories where this happened involved a German girl and, apparently, German politicians don't like this at all. They're now debating a plan to outlaw such things:

“If, in advance of an announced Facebook party, there are concrete indications of a danger to the participants or third parties, then it is the duty of the local authorities to ban the party.”

But, even worse, one politician, who supports the ban, also claimed that kids be required to get "internet driving licenses" that "would explain the dangers of Facebook." That seems a bit extreme. Thankfully some politicians recognize this:

“The simple fact that excesses happen on the sidelines of such events does not justify a general ban,” Wolfgang Bosbach, the chairman of the domestic affairs committee in parliament, told the daily Kolner Stadt Anzeiger, according to Spiegel. “There are also riots on the sidelines of football games and demonstrations but that does not mean that we should completely ban them.”

Is it so hard to admit that sometimes kids get involved in silly pranks and they don't require massive legal changes?

Filed Under: free speech, germany, internet driver's license
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