Gil Valle rose to infamy in October 2012 and became known to the world as the
NYPD "Cannibal Cop" after he was arrested for allegedly plotting to kidnap, cook, and eat women. These "plans" were formulated on a fetish website between people who never communicated in real life, and it was later found that these were not real plans at all.
Valle has since been
exonerated, but his case remains in the forefront of a debate over the First Amendment, Internet privacy, and "thought crimes." When, if ever, does a thought without any real action cross the line into criminal behavior and when are the civil rights of an American citizen violated?
If you are interested in a deep-dive into a complex legal issue that will only get more commonplace in the years ahead then please bring your (respectful) questions and join in the conversation.
Ed. Note: If you are interested in getting up to date on the case and issues prior to the Con consider watching the HBO doc
Thought Crimes: The Case of the Cannibal Cop.
