Proverbial

And the breakdown on Orkut continues. According to Folha Online, the Tribunal de Justiça of Rio de Janeiro is calling for personal data (.br) of the owners of two communities in Google’s social network: “Sou de menor, mas sei dirigir” (I’m a minor, but know how to drive) and “Eu sei dirigir bêbado” (I know how to drunk drive).

Money quote: “It is obvious that the right to privacy of users in investigated communities should yield to collective interest, since those communities would be inciting their members into practicing deeds with nefarious consequences to traffic safety”, wrote chief Judge Marco Aurélio Belizze, who signed the measure’s brief.

The charges are the same as always: “inciting and apology to crime”. It seems they’re the Judiciary’s weapon of choice when it comes to showing how tough they’re being on e-crime. To me, it’s a prime example of how any law will be abused and, most often than not, do much more harm than good (especially restrictions on speech).

Unless you really think that it is our judges’ and district attorneys’ job to go hunting kids who make stupid communities in Orkut. Sometimes, it is really tiring to live in Brazil.