Impersonating Someone Online In Texas Is Illegal Now

It seems like the Texas legislature is trying to play catch up with social networking technology this term. For example, Online Impersonation is now a criminal offense. Previously, Section 33.07(a) of the Penal Code penalized only targets harassing conduct committed on commercial social networking sites that are defined under Section 33.07(f)(1). Although targeted online harassment can occur on other Internet websites, conduct committed on those websites was previousl excluded from prosecution. The purpose of the new law is to retitle the former Online Harassment offense as Online Impersonation, giving 33.07(a) a broader net. This now includes targeted online harassment through impersonation committed not only on commercial social networking sites, but also on any other Internet website such as Craig’s List. The law makes it a third degree felony to impersonate another person without their permission on any website by posting information or sending messages with the intent to harm, defraud, threaten or intimidate any person.