False Information Ban (H 7389, S 2339)

Until this year, an outdated and overly-broad section of Rhode Island law stated that transmitting any false information over the Internet was a misdemeanor, punishable by a $500 and up to one year in jail.

Until this year, an outdated and overly-broad section of Rhode Island law stated that transmitting any false information over the Internet was a misdemeanor, punishable by a $500 and up to one year in jail. Under this statute, an individual who lied about their age on a social networking profile or forwarded a satirical e-mail to another was subject to arrest and jail time. ACLU legislation repealed that section of the law.