There's a new bill being hatched in Texas that may require convicted sex offenders to register their gamertags and other account names for online game networks like the PlayStation Network and Second Life with the fuzz. The new bill is called HB 22 and is headed to the Texas House of Representatives. If it passes there, it's next stop will be the Senate.
I'm no legal eagle so here's GamePolitics' take on the bill:
As HB 22 is currently written, the measure would seem to encompass online gaming venues such as Xbox Live, PlayStation Home and Second Life. However, no specific reference to online gaming appears in the bill, which has cleared committee but has not yet been taken up on the House floor.
In fact, a stricter interpretation of HB22 might preclude sex offenders from places like XBL and SL entirely. That's because the bill bars sex offenders from using the Internet to access commercial social networking sites. Such a prohibition which might reasonably be extended to encompass the increasingly prominent social aspects of online gaming venues.
GamePolitics also notes that with the rising number of pedophile arrests over online gaming networks, similar bills could start popping up in the future.
http://wii.qj.net/New-Texas-bill-wants-sex-offenders-to-register-gamertags-other-online-names/pg/49/aid/131081
