3 Weird But True Internet Laws

There are all kinds of Internet laws; good, bad, and some that are just plain weird. Today we are going to focus on the strange but true laws of the Internet. These three laws come from all over the world and can really make you shake your head in awe at the sheer insanity of it all.

#1: It is illegal in the State of Tennessee (USA) to post/send “distressing” images over the Internet

Yes, you heard right. As of mid-2011, it’s been illegal to “transmit or display an image” anywhere online that could (yes, probably) “frighten, intimidate, or cause emotional distress” to anyone who sees it. Yes, anyone, regardless of whether or not the person in question was the target of the image. This takes the crown for the most ridiculous internet laws ever made! Under this law, anyone, from anywhere in the world, can view an image, and regardless of what that image represents, or whether the person who uploaded it had an ulterior motive for posting it, whether the image can be traced back to its user. They could face up to a year in jail and more than two thousand dollars in fines.

#2: It is illegal to own an “unregistered” modem in Burma

The Burmese government takes the Internet very seriously… so much so that it has a stranglehold on Internet access throughout the country. Internet access is limited by hardware and software restrictions, ie unregistered modems. Out-of-country visitors can bring a single laptop, but they’ll need to declare it upon arrival, and it’s safe to assume that every mouse click you make with it is being carefully watched.

#3: In Uxbridge, Ontario, it is illegal to have an Internet connection of more than 56k!

This is a popular favorite online and can be validated in various places. This is one of those rare cases of severely outdated laws that are still technically applicable. It’s funny to think of a place where it’s illegal to have an internet connection faster than dial-up! Out of these three weird Internet laws, this one has to win the prize for the most absurd.

And these are just the tip of the iceberg; There are plenty of other weird but true internet laws on the books around the world that make many people sit and wonder what the hell these legislators were thinking when they wrote them and signed them into law.

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