In a series of recent legislative moves, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has been signing bills that raised eyebrows among conservatives. The Land of Lincoln is witnessing a significant shift in its legal landscape, with freedoms curtailed and controversial laws enacted.
One such law that has sparked intense debate is the Illinois Civil Liability for Doxing Act. This new legislation puts Illinois residents at risk for sharing even the most basic, truthful facts.
The term ‘doxing’ is commonly understood as the act of sharing personal information about someone on the internet, potentially making them vulnerable to harassment or revenge. However, this new law redefined ‘doxing’ in a way that could have far-reaching implications.
American politics in 2023.
The #2 Democratic Presidential candidate behind Joe Biden (~20% support) being baselessly censored by Democrats at a House Subcommittee hearing.
The censure motion was defeated by… the Republicans. pic.twitter.com/QeA1hvQGF9
— Will Kingston🎙️ (@WillKingston) July 22, 2023
WirePoints, a news outlet known for its investigative reporting, shed light on the disturbing aspects of this law.
According to their report, the law is over-broad, extending far beyond the malicious conduct typically associated with doxing. It appears even innocuous actions could potentially expose individuals to liability under this law.
For instance, imagine writing on social media about a public figure’s controversial views or sending out a group email containing a pamphlet from a local political party chapter.
Under the new law, these actions could potentially be considered doxing, opening up the possibility of lawsuits for damages. This isn’t the only controversial bill signed by Governor Pritzker recently.
The Illinois Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of an assault weapons ban and the Pretrial Fairness Act provision of the Safety, Accountability, Equity, Transparency-today Act.
This means cash bail will be eliminated in Illinois within 60 days, a move seen by many as a victory for criminals.
@repjamesComer
ORGANIZE #REPUBLICANSWray left w/o CHALLENGE to DISCOVERY FOUND;
+#TwitterFiles
+#Jan6th
+@SCOTUS leak
+TrumpRaid v Hunter advance notice
+#HunterBidenLaptop
+#FISA Abuse
+#COVID
+Republicans being CENSORED
By SocialMedia.@GOP FAILED, AGAIN!
Will @GOPoversihght— @moderateRepandDem 🇺🇸 (@moderateRepand1) July 13, 2023
Furthermore, Pritzker signed the SAFE-T (Safety, Accountability, Fairness, and Equity- Today) ACT into law in February. This was followed by the passage of Bill 3751, which allows some non-US citizens to serve in law enforcement in the state.
Adding to the list of contentious decisions, Oak Park, a suburb of Chicago, became the first Midwestern town to ban fossil fuels in new homes and commercial buildings. These legislative changes are reshaping Illinois in ways that left many conservatives deeply concerned.
This article appeared in StatesmanPost and has been published here with permission.
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings