INTERNET STALKING: A Missouri mother pled "not guilty" to charges that she used a social networking site illegally to bully a 13-year-old girl who later committed suicide. After the tragedy, the victim's mother campaigned for legislation to prosecute online bullies.

Lori Drew is accused of posing as a 16-year-old boy on MySpace to harass Megan Meier. In May, a grand jury in Los Angeles indicted the 49-year-old Drew using an unusual interpretation of federal computer hacking laws. Drew said she was innocent of Internet fraud and conspiracy charges. She stands trial later this month.

Drew Poses as Teen Boy on MySpace to Taunt Meier

Meier had been a friend of Drew's daughter, but they had had a falling out.

Federal prosecutors alleged Drew set up a fake MySpace profile page calling herself Josh Evans. Then, along with her daughter and teen employee, she courted the unsuspecting teen.

In the fall of 2006, under the guise of Josh, Drew began taunting Meier, eventually telling her that "the world would be a better place" without her. (The NY Times, 6/17/08)

Later that day, Megan hung herself.

First Time Hacking Statute Used in Internet Social Networking Case

At the time, Missouri authorities said they had no law under which to prosecute Drew.

Because MySpace is based in Beverly Hills, Calif., federal prosecutors indicted Drew in California last month by listing MySpace as a victim in the case and citing the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. This computer hacking statute is normally used in cases where hackers break into government computers.

According to Los Angeles federal prosecutor Thomas O'Brien, this case marks the first time this statute has been used in an Internet social networking case.

For Drew to access MySpace's servers, she had to first sign up for an account and provide factual personal information. Prosecutors said she provided false information and used her fake account to solicit information from a minor.

Court Could Sentence Drew to 20 Years for Hacking, Conspiracy Charges

The grand jury indicted Drew on the following charges:

• Three counts of accessing protected computers without authorization
• One count of conspiracy to inflict emotional distress

Each count carries a maximum sentence of five years for a total of 20 years.

There's no legal precedent for applying the Computer Fraud Act to a case involving a social networking Internet site. Drew's lawyer, H. Dean Steward, said he plans a legal challenge to all of the charges.

Drew posted $20,000 bail and returned to Missouri. Her trial date is set for June 29.

Politicians Pass New Legislation for Internet Stalking

Public outcry after Meier's suicide spurred politicians to propose new legislation to crack down on cyber bullies. In fact, in most states, there are no laws that specifically address Internet stalking.

Earlier this month, Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt signed into law a bill that provides broader definitions for stalking and harassment to include online activities.

Rep. Kenny Hulshof (R-Mo.) and Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.) recently proposed a bill, known as the Megan Meier Cyberbullying Prevention Act, which would make online harassment a criminal offense.

Meier's Mom Starts Cyber Bully Foundation to Help Others

One of the most outspoken proponents of the new legislation is Meier's mother, Tina Meier.

After her daughter's death, Tina founded the Megan Meier Foundation. The Foundation's mission is to help parents and children deal with increasing prevalence of cyber-bullies.

Copyright © 2010 Informify

Question for Readers:

If your child has been a victim of cyber bullying, how did you handle the situation?