Contact: Jeff Barbosa
(916) 319-2020

SACRAMENTO – State Assembly Member Alberto Torrico (D-Newark) sent a letter to State Attorney General Jerry Brown urging an investigation into dangerous campus gossip websites that may be spreading libelous information, propagating hate speech, and endangering the safety of women on campuses across the state. 

The letter states, “I am hoping that you, as California’s guardian of civil rights and consumer protection, will aggressively investigate these businesses for possible violations of  state civil rights and consumer protection laws in the process of publishing and promoting these egregious and outrageous websites.  In addition, I would welcome any suggestions for changes to state law that would prevent these sites from endangering the public.”

According to the Associated Press, New Jersey prosecutors have subpoenaed records of one of these sites, JuicyCampus.com, for possibly violating New Jersey's Consumer Fraud Act by suggesting that it doesn't allow offensive material while providing no enforcement of that rule and no way for users to report or dispute the material.

AP further reported that the investigation by New Jersey officials began when a student, who had been terrorized by posts on the site that included her address, came forward. Prosecutors have subpoenaed information from JuicyCampus on how it is run, citing concerns about "unconscionable commercial practices."

The Juicycampus.com launched last fall on seven college campuses and recently expanded to include UC Berkeley, UC Irvine, UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara, UCLA, University of San Diego, and USC.

“I am particularly concerned that the site is specifically designed to shield its users from the threat of libel claims,” Assembly Member Torrico said.  “The site openly touts that it is not possible for anyone to use the website to find out who you are or where you are located.  It further states that the company does not track any information that can be used to identify individuals who post gossip on the site.”