Today a Los Angeles judge plans to overturn the jury conviction of Missouri woman, Lori Drew, whose role in a faux online relationship led to the suicide of her daughter's "frenemy."  A frenemy is defined by the Urban Dictionary as "Someone who is both friend and enemy, a relationship that is both mutually beneficial or dependent while being competitive, fraught with risk and mistrust."  Drew, 50, was convicted by a jury in November 2008 of three misdemeanor counts of accessing a computer without authority for her part in a hoax involving a fake MySpace profile created with the intent of breaking a 13 year old's heart.  The girl was Megan Meier, who is reported to be the on again off again friend of Drew's daughter.  Unfortunately, Meier never got to learn that friends like the Drews would put anyone's enemies out of business.

While the ruling of US District Judge George Wu is not official until he issues a written ruling, he stated Thursday, "This is conduct done every day by millions and millions of people.  How many times do people get on these 'match' sites and pretty much lie about everything?  What is the crime here?"  

While I agree that lying in online profiles can be irritating but far from illegal, as anonymity is a major lure of the internet, at some point adults should be held to some responsibility when dealing with minors in a malicious and spiteful manner.  For the same reasons we have laws that protect minors from statutory rape and explicit media material, limits should be placed on those who intentionally and carelessly cause harm to the development of children and teens.  In her late forties, she may not have known whether or not she was violating the law, Drew had to know she was doing damage to a girl who was about one fourth her age.  

By overturning a jury ruling Judge Wu has not only forgiven her heinous actions, but undermined the findings of the people and will encourage more acts of cyber-bullying.  Whether or not prosecutors decide to file new charges, or to report Drew to social services for unfit parenting, a message should be sent to the public that cruel behavior has a criminal limit.

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