New cyber laws are created each year, but many people have no idea they exist. Could you be doing something illegal online and not even know it?

Depending on where you live, a
comment you leave on Twitter or
YouTube could violate certain cyber
laws. These laws pertain to conduct
on the Internet – and many
netizens have no idea they even
exist! A little bit of research could
leave you startled about what
seemingly innocent behaviours are
actually against the law.


United States: Sharing Passwords
Makes You a Felon

Did your friend give you the
password to his Netflix account?

According to a US 9th Circuit Court
ruling, that’s a felony.
It’s the unfortunate result of a rigid
interpretation of the Computer
Fraud and Abuse Act.

The court
declared that password-sharing
between two parties is wrong
unless they both have explicit
authorization from the site owner.

The average person doesn't own
Netflix, YouTube, or any of the
major websites for which they
might be sharing passwords. The
decision made millions of
Americans potential felons
overnight.

China: Activist and Anti-
Government Opinions

Laura Lian’s blog Shameless China
made $7,000 per month. It helped
her garner 220,000 loyal fans.

But
then, as Bloomberg reported, a
single post cost her everything.

Internet authorities shut down her
blog [with] no warning. It happened just after she posted an article
mocking Chinese men’s hairstyles,
including former President Jiang
Zemin’s slick-backed coiffure.

“It didn't dawn on me how serious
the situation was,” Lian said. “I
didn't realise I was never getting
back this account and all my
followers.”

Laura Lian wouldn't think she’s
lucky, but it could have been worse.
Particularly, if her website weren't
satirical and she was a known
activist.

Online activism in China or
strong anti-government sentiments
of any kind can get you arrested
and tossed in jail.

United Kingdom: Life in Prison for
“Unauthorised Act”

The May 2015 amendment to the
United Kingdom’s Computer
Misuse Act of 1990 was long
overdue. And yet some
adjustments have raised eyebrows,
and even red flags.

For instance, certain “unauthorised
acts” online could get you a life
sentence. The problem is that
legislators neglected to specify
what those acts are.

The vagueness
of the law is frightening, as it
leaves far too much room for
abuse by authority figures.


Iran: Sexist, Backward Selfie
Policies

Men and women in selfies
together? Very serious business in
Iran. So much so that the Iranian
football team was warned not to
take selfies with female fans. The
Iranian Football Federation’s moral
committee claimed such an act
might be used as a “political tool.”

The organisation threatened to
punish violators.
Iranian women are banned outright
from football games in their home
country.

Sadly, travelling abroad is
their only opportunity to cheer their
sports heroes in person.

The idea
that they are barred from taking
selfies with athletes because of
archaic and sexist thinking is rather
sad.


Conclusion

You can laugh off memes and
hashtags, but cyber laws? Not so
much.

What might seem like
harmless fun could lead to a hefty
fine or even jail time. Is a particular
action really worth the risk? It’s
best to do the research and find
out.

What bizarre or little known cyber
laws are you aware of?
Please
share them and your thoughts in
the comment section!

Nice info.

Good writeup