End of anonymous free speech in online forums?
Soon you may not be able to post anonymous comments in online forums. This is from a new bill in the State of New Jersey:
The operator of any interactive computer service or an Internet service provider shall establish, maintain and enforce a policy to require any information content provider who posts written messages on a public forum website either to be identified by a legal name and address, or to register a legal name and address with the operator of the interactive computer service or the Internet service provider through which the information content provider gains access to the interactive computer service or Internet, as appropriate.
This means that you would not be able to surf the Internet and post anonymous messages. You would have to provide your legal name and address before posting your free speech online.
Thankfully it seems this (proposed) bill has been shutdown.
From Slashdot:
“Earlier, denizens of Slashdot reacted to a story about a bill to be introduced to the New Jersey legislature that would require hosts of forums, bulletin boards and the like to keep track of the real identity of anonymous posters. Seems like there was a strong reaction all over. Assemblyman Biondi now appears to be backpedalling furiously. From a letter quoted after the link: ‘I am getting inundated with responses which I will review and use to better educate myself on the implications of this bill. If, after reviewing all of the correspondence and the opinion of OLS, it turns out that the bill is, in fact, unworkable, I will certainly reconsider and withdraw it.’”
Comment by Martin Wells — March 10, 2006 @ 12:19 am
[…] As mentioned previously, New Jersey has bills in place that would eliminate anonymous online speech. The EFF has a recent news release on it. Technorati Tags: eff new jersey […]
Pingback by Real Conspiracy Theories » New Jersey launches assault on free speech — March 15, 2006 @ 1:21 am