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In Time magazine’s article entitled “Not Guilty Plea in Web Suicide Case”, author, Linda Deutsch, addresses the federal court case involving 49-year-old, Lori Drew, and the internet hoax that supposedly was the cause of 13-year-old, Megan Meier’s suicide in 2006.
Lori Drew, of St. Louis, M.O., has been accused of creating a fake MySpace account belonging to a 16-year-old boy, and sending cruel messages to Megan Meier, who hanged herself in 2006. Drew is denying responsibility for creating the account and sending messages such as “the world would be better off without [Megan],” (Deutsch).
Drew has pled Not Guilty. This case opens up many new aspects of Internet Law. The only current statute (the same one indicting Drew) states that hackers cannot illegally get information through opening and accessing accounts. It does not, however, address the misuse of legal accounts and information available to anyone on the Internet. This is the first time the statute is used in a “social-networking case,” (Deutcsh).
Unfortunately, the statute, known as the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, may be unable to indict Drew due to the nature of the crime. There is no law in place to address the imposition of liability to those who misuse the Internet in such ways that others are affected so drastically. The police were not even able to file charges against Drew because there is no applicable law.
However, Megan Meier’s tragedy has potentially begun a re-evaluation of many Internet laws that will, hopefully, hold everyone accountable for what the do and who they may be hurting online. This misfortune may result in the enhancement of safety on the Internet for everyone. Missouri legislators, in response to Drew’s abuse of the Internet, have already given “final approval to a bill, making cyber harassment illegal,” (Deutsch).

Works Cited
Deutsch, Linda. "Not Guilty Plea in Suicide Case." Time. 16 June 2008. CNN. 16 June 2008...