Resolved: Blackmail should be legalized

The Pro's first argument is that Blackmail should be legal because none of its actions are illegal, that is completely false. Extortion: Illegal use of one's official position or powers to obtain property, funds, or patronage. Since one party is using information as a position of leverage to obtain money from another party, that quite literally is extortion, a practice that is completely illegal...... In the examples the Pro gave the requests for money is completely voluntary with the other side not being influenced in any way if they approve or disapprove the loan. In blackmail however the choice is not voluntary as one party uses a combination of extortion and fear to have their way. As for the freedom of speech argument. Revealing information is indeed perfectly legal, but since you are using information as a threat and as leverage for financial compensation, that counts as extortion, which is completely illegal. Since half of the act of blackmail is extortion, which is illegal, that invalidates this entire argument that blackmail should be legal on the ground that "both components of its actions are legal" since in reality they are NOT legal... The second argument that is made is that legalizing blackmail protects both parties through contracts. However the Pro fails to realize that not all cases of blackmail threaten another party with truthful information.... This very year an extremist website on the internet tried to extort Taylor Swift to renounce her faith and convert to Islam by using a naked photo of her as leverage, only problem was that the girl in the photo wasnt her..... The website claimed it was Taylor Swift (which it wasnt) and tried to use false evidence to try to extort someone to do something against their will. http://news.softpedia.com... Here is another instance of why blackmail is illegal. Lets pretend in this very argument I decided to send a private message to the Pro that said "If you do not immediately forfeit this debate I will make up evidence to show that you are secretly izbo10" In this case I am threatening the Pro with completely false information as leverage to win a debate, but since I am lying, committing extortion, and making false accusations against the Pro that makes what I am doing completely illegal on three different counts. However, what if the person being blackmailed does not have the thing that they are being extorted for? In the situation above I am asking the Pro to concede the debate but what if I were demanding something the Pro did not have. "forfeit this debate and transfer $50,000 into this bank account or Ill claim you are Izbo10". Well there is a pretty good chance that the Pro does not have $50,000 just lying around but I wouldnt know that or even care. In this case of Blackmail I am threatening the Pro with false information and in exchange want something that the Pro cannot offer. Blackmail should stay illegal because 1) The methods behind it are illegal, 2) Information used in blackmail may be completely false which under a court of law falls under perjury, another illegal act, and 3) one party may be extorting the other party for something they do not have and would have to go out of their way to acquire to protect themselves from information that could be false anyways