Soon, you may no longer be able to post anonymously on DU.

[Mutley]

Or anywhere on the internets.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bal-te.bz.blogger02nov02,1,7358590.story

A Maryland appeals court will hear arguments today in a case that could help determine whether someone who makes an anonymous -- and disparaging -- Internet posting in chat rooms or on message boards could be unmasked.

A decision could add to an emerging body of law shaping free-speech boundaries in the Internet age, when people using screen names as aliases regularly gripe online about politicians, employers and investments.

Advertisement
The area is of great concern on Wall Street, where online postings have affected stock prices and tarnished corporate reputations.

The case stems from efforts by an Arizona drug company to obtain the names of subscribers to a financial newsletter based in Rockville, in hopes that those people might lead to others who allegedly defamed the company online.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

1. LET THEM TRY

[Mutley]

10. They are.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

13. Well then...then...then...

we won't buy anymore crap on the internets, that's what!

[Mutley]

18. Ha.

I don't buy crap on the internets anyway. I'm paranoid like that. The last bit of money I spent online was to donate to DU.

[meegbear]

2. They can have my info ...

If I call someone like * or Cheney a DOUCHEBAG, it's because I can't say it to their face.

[Mutley]

24. If they have their way, we won't be able to say it away from their face,

either.

[bloom]

3. They are also working

to get universities to give them email/web-eavesdropping access. Like Universities will be required to redo their whole internet connection system to suit the gov't. :wtf:

[Mutley]

5. Now, that is messed up.

This should alarm even the conservatives, eh? They say all sorts of insane things on the internets.

[tularetom]

4. What - they're hiring "trial lawyers"?

These asswipes run camapign after campaign lambasting TRIAL LAWYERS as a symbol of everything thats wrong with America - but have you ever noticed how quickly they all go running to a trial lawyer whenever someone does something they don't like.

[Mutley]

6. Of course. It's hypocrisy at its finest.

Sickening.

:puke:

[skids]

7. Can't post Anonymously?

Then post as someone else.

:rofl:

[Mutley]

9. Har de har har.

:D

But this is serious stuff here.

[skids]

22. Yeah, well, I find it hard to take...

...anything regarding legislative policy on the commodity internet in use today very seriously.

The web as we know it consists mainly of insecure applications running on insecure OSes transmitting across insecure networks all administered by a 90/10 mix of boobs to competants. Noone seems to care that it could all go poof in under 24 hours if someone with brain cells and a mean sociopathic streak coded the right virus. So why should details like free speech legislation concern me particularly? It's like stomping out a cigarette butt on top of tire fire.

And the blunt instrument of government is going to come in here and do what? Restrict the freedom of people who want to post anonymously? Like they actually have managed to get spam rules to stick? Like they crack down on the thousands of script kiddies banging on my server's doors at 4am? Like they've made such strides in catching phishers? Yeah, they'll get right on that.

[Mutley]

23. Well, your post has scared me more than that article did.

Thanks.

:o

[stopbush]

11. They want to outlaw anonymity.

[wtmusic]

17. That is, unfortunately, what it comes down to

when you get your national ID and your implant ID chip, the Thought Police aren't far behind.

[Chan790]

26. I had a friend...

who was working on a data project for a government contractor that gave them access to everybody's personal data including SS#s, phones numbers and addresses. They used to make ironic donations to organizations with the proper data pretending to be major US government officials. (Ashcroft receiving an ACLU membership, for example.)

The boss came around and told the entire department that he didn't know who was doing it (and didn't want to know because he'd have to turn them over for investigation) but that they'd better stop. Then took them all out for drinks because he thought it was hilarious.

edited: the point is if they can't figure out who is pretending to be them...I sincerely doubt they're going to figure out that I'm not Elmer Fudd any time soon.

[stopbush]

8. We'll give up screen names if the politicians will quit

using "administration sources" and the rest when they decide it's time to spin the news. If blogging demands using a real name then so should ALL news reporting.

Honestly, like making a disparaging remark about someone on a blog has the same effect as sending thousands off to their senseless deaths over a pack of lies.

[Mutley]

12. A rational mind understands that.

Unfortunately, we are not dealing with rational minds.

[musette_sf]

anyone who believes online postings on stocks

is an asshat who deserves what they get.

[CountAllVotes]

14. a bill was NAYED by the House a few minutes ago

re: this very issue (in other words it did NOT get approved!).

:kick:

[Mutley]

16. Well, that is excellent news!

:thumbsup: Thanks!

[CountAllVotes]

28. yep it sounds dead in the water to me

Both sides were voting NO on this btw for A CHANGE! :D :party:

:kick:

[Mutley]

29. Heh. Something we can all agree on for once.

Doesn't happen often.

[CountAllVotes]

30. no it does not happen very often, esp. these days

Frankly, I was very surprised. It was put to rest after a mere oral YEAH OR NAY.

The NAYs were a lot louder and the YEAHs were a whimper.

This type of action does nothing but agitate all of these people for they are the ones that have things to hide, not your average Joe Blow from who cares where. *sigh*

Anyway, it was sunk and they said they had no plans to bring it before the House again anytime soon.

So yes, a victory for America this time around for a change (and for THEM too; we cannot forget about THEM)!!!

:kick:

[Goblinmonger]

15. "He loved big brother."

Just thought I'd skip right to the end of this novel; it's one of my favorites.

Oh...wait...this is really happening?

[Mutley]

20. Yes. It is really happening.

Frightening.

[FormerDittoHead]

19. Another example of Rep's not knowing how the Internet works...

I won't even dwell upon how this law can be rendered pointless...

[Mutley]

21. Well, I don't really know how the internets work, either.

I just use them. :D

Could you give me the short version?

[FormerDittoHead]

25. Use a BBS based in a country out of US jursidiction. Short enough? n/t

[Mutley]

27. Yes, quite.

Thanks. :hi: