Proposed Arizona bill aims to prevent online bullying, critics call it censorship

PHOENIX - You may not have heard about House Bill 2549. 

It quietly made its way through the state legislature and would make it a crime to terrify, intimidate or annoy someone while using an electronic device.

In other words, according to lawmakers, if you were to post comments on someone's Facebook page that they felt were threatening or harassing, you could be charged with a crime.

It sounds harsh, but lawmakers say the goal behind the measure is to combat online stalking and bullying.

"We're trying to make sure people are protected from stalkers in this day and age," said Arizona House Minority Leader Chad Campbell.

Campbell is a co-sponsor of the bill that was making its way to the Governor's desk for approval.

ABC15 has learned the measure did not make it her desk, and that it is likely being reworked due to a public outcry calling the measure "internet censorship".

Some critics likened the bill, and Arizona, to countries like China and Syria saying the measure tramples on First Amendment rights.

"This was not an attack on any First Amendment rights," said Campbell while standing in the shadows of the state capitol. "I enjoy my First Amendment rights, just as you, this is not something we want and if it needs to be reworked a bit to ease concerns, we will do that."

Campbell said he had fielded questions and calls from concerned people over the issue.

"You've seen some of the bullying problems we've had in high schools and grade schools across the country, Facebook posts attacking people, Twitter messages attacking people, we're trying to update the stalking code to reflect the modern day," said Campbell.