Damaging Posts not Protected by Journalistic Source Laws
In a recent ruling an Indianapolis judge has ruled that hiding behind a screen name when posting comments on newspaper blogs will not shield the poster of legal liabilities associated with his or her postings.
This is a different position than news organizations have typically taken when it comes to the postings of anonymous bloggers. Now if someone who calls themselves “IMAFOOL” posts something that is false and causes damages to a person’s reputation, then the source on which “IMAFOOL” posted will be required to release the IP address of “IMAFOOL” so that the real name of the person can be the subject of any lawsuit filed that covers the words posted.
This ruling will have no effect on the day to day political banter among posters who disagree but will pierce the veil of secrecy that anonymous posting has provided for false and damaging posting.
I have no problem with this. I think too many people abuse anonymity. Just look at the hate-filled invectives on the Courier-Press comments.
I’ll let others debate the wisdom about anonymous commenting. But I am pleased that if someone is libeled or harassed has a means to identify and possibly prosecute the perps.
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