New York proposes banning anonymous online comments

[ShareShiz]

New York proposes banning anonymous online comments
By Nathan Tsui

A bill proposed in both chambers of the New York State Legislature aims to target cyber-bullying by banning anonymous comments on websites, blogs, forums and social networks.

A New York bill, proposed Monday in both chambers of the New York State Legislature, would combat cyber-bullying by effectively banning comments from anonymous users on New York-based websites, blogs, forums, social networks, and pretty much any other form of online communication, reports Wired.

Specifically, the Internet Protection Act's goal would be "protecting a person's right to know who is behind an anonymous internet posting." If the bill (A.8688/S.6779) were to become law, website administrators would be obligated to "remove any comments posted on his or her website by an anonymous poster unless such anonymous poster agrees to attach his or her name to the post." All website administrators would also be required to provide a phone number or email address to receive such removal requests.

However, the measure seems unlikely to become law. No votes have yet been taken on the bill, and an attorney speaking to Wired seemed skeptical of its passage. "This statute would essentially destroy the ability to speak anonymously online on sites in New York," said Kevin Bankston, a staff attorney with the Center for Democracy and Technology. Bankston equated the bill to a "heckler's veto to anybody who disagrees with or doesn't like what an anonymous poster said."

The legislation is sponsored by Assemblyman Dean Murray and Senator Thomas O'Mara, both Republicans from New York. The bill intends to give power back to the cyber-bullied, because it "will offer them the opportunity to either confront the person making these comments by having that person identified, or have the comment removed all together in the case where this comment is false or slanderous," Murray said.

"The internet has been a great innovation for our time, it's brought forth a lot of advantages, but with that, there are abuses that come with it," O'Mara said. "This will help lend some accountability to the internet age."

ShareShiz Reviewed by ShareShiz on 24th May 2012. New York proposes banning anonymous online comments New York proposes banning anonymous online comments By Nathan Tsui A bill proposed in both chambers of the New York State Legislature aims to target cyber-bullying by banning anonymous comments on websites, blogs, forums and social networks. Rating: 5

[Flash]

Wait first they make CP legal and now they want to ban online anonymity? NY you crazy.

[EnCiPh3r]

It will only increase in more drama and all that instead of people being anonymous they will start using fake names hence increasing more spam.

VPN industry is gonna boost coz of this. Why the hell dont they understand concept of free speech

[ShareShiz]

This is just one more step towards RFID chips.

[cvrle77]

I would say one more step to dictatorship...and absolute control.

[citykitteh]

First of all, I don't think this could possibly pass. Secondly, it's clearly unconstitutional, as the First Amendment protects the right to anonymous speech, so even if the law did pass, it wouldn't stand up to judicial review. Third, this can only be enforced on websites with NY jurisdiction attached to them, so basically don't call anyone a dirty cumdumpster on the NYTimes comments (or simply stop reading/using the site).

[Smith]

Man

They are wasting their and our time, bandwidth and money with these foolish ideas.

[Darlos]

Crazy people these days. They can't do that!

[Gavo]

This site is using a hacked database of W junction

[cvrle77]

First of all, I don't think this could possibly pass. Secondly, it's clearly unconstitutional, as the First Amendment protects the right to anonymous speech, so even if the law did pass, it wouldn't stand up to judicial review. Third, this can only be enforced on websites with NY jurisdiction attached to them, so basically don't call anyone a dirty cumdumpster on the NYTimes comments (or simply stop reading/using the site).

It doesn't matter if it passes or not.
Suggesting bill, that is unconstitutional, in it's essence, means, that proposer of the bill isn't suitable for the seat in congress, he is filling.
Now, it's trendy to suggest bills that aren't constitutional, and are being adopted (NDAA is just one example), and even signed, and approved by Obama.
So, someone is doing that on purpose, for the benefit of the smaller group of lobbyist.
It's not a coincidence, it's deliberate, and malicious work. I've never seen more bills being written, and tried to be adopted, that are breaking 1st Amendment, than in last 2-4 years.
If anyone have better, non 'conspiracy' explanation, please, be my guest, explain it better.