We’ve all read them. As a long-time blogger, I’ve read plenty of them. Comments on blog posts from “anonymous,” that is. Now, a ruling by a judge in Philadelphia might give “anonymous” second thoughts about making incendiary or defamatory comments online. A Philadelphia judge has ordered philly to reveal the name of an anonymous commenter in a defamation suit brought by an electricians union leader, which his attorney says could have a broad impact on incendiary online comments and those who make them — sometimes called “trolls” — who post anonymously. “Anonymous” was sued for calling the union leader a name. An attorney for the commenter, who remained anonymous, argued that identifying the offender would violate his or her First Amendment rights, while Joe Podraza, the union leader’s attorney, argued the comment was defamation, not protected by either the federal or state constitution: “I think the court is sending a strong message to those who abuse the internet by defaming others and think they can get away with it by acting anonymously. The court is strongly saying that anonymity does not mean immunity under defamation law.” The common cause judge, Jacqueline Allen, agreed with Podraza, who said after the ruling: “Hopefully, it will send a strong message to people to be more responsible when they’re posting comments, particularly when they’re attempting to do so in an anonymous capacity.”
Posted on: Sat, 08 Mar 2014 23:59:37 +0000
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