New Study Shows How Technology Has Turned the Registry Into Digital Punishment
A new study shows that research is now looking closely at how digital technology has changed the way people are punished. The sex offense registry in the U.S. is a prime example.
What was once described by the Supreme Court as a simple, non-punitive list has now become something very different. Technology has transformed the registry into a system of surveillance and control. It is no longer just government agencies watching—location tracking, mass data sharing, private companies selling information, and even ordinary citizens monitoring registrants all play a role.
Even though the law still labels the registry as a “civil” measure, the reality is that it functions as a form of digital punishment and constant surveillance. This study shows the urgent need to rethink how technology turns so-called civil regulations into lifelong punishment.
We encourage members to read this important study and share it with policymakers, community leaders, and others in your network. Research like this strengthens our advocacy by proving what many of us already know—the registry is not just a civil list, it is a system of punishment. Use this evidence to help push for laws based on facts, fairness, and real public safety.
Here’s the citation: Lageson, S., & Sudduth, C. (2025). Digital punishment, lateral surveillance & the sex offense registry. Punishment & Society, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/14624745251370758
Here’s the Study: Digital punishment – Lageson and Sudduth
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Of course. Ever since packingham we can have as many social media accounts as we want (as long as we report them).
Unfortunately, the social media companies will kick you off in a matter of days if not hours.
So, no, you cannot have a Facebook account.
As I said if your on probation you are not allowed to have ANY social media accounts period
the issue is that it isn’t a “bug: of the system. it is an intent of the system. So many congressmember’s in both state and federal law making roles have bragged and came right out and stated they intend the registry’s as punitive and as forms of scarlet letter or star of david punishments.. Too many to count and to many for the Supreme Court to continue to “pretend” they dont know its punitive.. They know.. its not the glitch its the intent..
Which lawmakers “came right out and stated they intend the registry’s as punitive”?
Please share a few examples. It would be helpful to litigation.
Matt Gaetz, Florida State Representative:
“One thing is correct; we’re throwing the kitchen sink at violent sexual predators. That’s an accurate characterization of the bill.”
This quote openly admits the aggressive and punitive nature of the legislation.
WOW!
The same Matt Gaetz who was accused of sex offenses? The below can easily be found online.
The controversy surrounding Matt Gaetz primarily involves serious allegations of sexual misconduct and potential criminal activity. He is accused of paying for sex with multiple women, including allegations that he had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl, which may violate federal sex-trafficking laws.
But he wormed his way out of it
In September 2022, after more than two years of investigating Gaetz, prosecutors recommended that no charges be filed against the Florida congressman.
Power, money and friends in high places.
https://oncefallen.com/quotes-on-so-laws/
I have a lot of quotes here, though not all are from FL
On many occasions, I have seen stories on FAC and on other outlets of someone using the registry to find a target to attack or even kill. No matter how bad a person on the registry is, they are still a father, a son, a brother, an uncle etc. And when you kill someone, you don’t kill just them, you change the lives of their entire families.
As far as I know, most of the people who attack registered persons have zero connection to that person and is done just because they think they are doing the community a favor. Having said that, murder is murder no matter how you paint it.
And finally, most of us have not re-offended and have lived many decades without another arrest or violation.
This is why FAC needs to stop condoning new surveillance techniques as a good thing as they have in the past. There have been several articles FAC has posted stating the new technology was a good thing for SOR and would be beneficial to registrants. ANY type of new tracking technology leads to more and more control, not less and does nothing to improve the registry.
Could be that I am way out in left field on this but just a thought, seems to me we are forgetting something? Isn’t the government suppose to be working for the people not the people working for the government?? With one estimate there is close to a million people on the registry? With each person having only one person that knows them that is two million people? If Martin Luther King did a march on Washinton DC why can’t we do it?? If your afraid to be seen put a mask on seems to be the rage now days? I do know one thing for sure the registry is wrong I believe we can all agree on that? As long as we don’t do something to get peoples attention it will never go away?
Also, what may seem innocuous at first blush, but feels insidious (to me, at least) is how much every day stuff is facebook-only. (Yet, we cannot have a Facebook account).
Many companies only offer feedback forms, or purchase forms or “vote for your favorite” forms through Facebook. – Not to mention the many civic meeting that are published on Facebook exclusively.
It is time that Facebook was declared “the public square”.
You can have Facebook, but like everything else unfortunately, you have to register it. You know, big brother government has to make sure we’re behaving. Personally, I don’t have any social media, it’s just one more variable to trip on and get a FTR.
FL statute does not say we cannot have a Facebook. It is Facebook that regulates the decision to delete your account once it is reported to FDLE. I have heard of many Citizens forced to register having social media accounts, just as long as they are registered.