Legislation Lags Behind Technology

I read a very interesting article entitled, "SJC says lewd IMS to minors not illegal" in the Boston Globe. It discusses how there is a loop in legislation that makes sexual explicit instant messages to a minor not a crime. A Beverly man has had his convictions overturned because there is nothing in the law that makes explicit messages through the internet or text messages a crime. The current legislation bans the dissemination of "any matter harmful to minors - including photographs, magazines, movies, and handwritten or printed material". This leaves a loop hole in legislation. Governor Deval Patrick is planning on filing a bill that would hope to close this loop hole and bring the language of the legislation up to date with modern technology.