Date: June 9th, 2011 3:09 PM
Author: Big Carnelian Private Investor
The ability to speak anonymously is critical to the openness of the Internet.
The loss of the right to anonymous speech online would be a grave blow to the
vibrancy of the public sphere. At the same time, however, anonymity can foster
vicious attacks, especially those that would be socially unacceptable in
traditional public discourse. This phenomenon cannot be erased entirely—
indeed, it should not be. The wholesale elimination of such unpleasant speech
would necessarily encompass valuable, protected speech in its sweep.
Nevertheless, the increasing complexity of the online environment demands
standards that govern online speech with increasing nuance. By distinguishing
between speech targeted at private and public figures, and by distinguishing
speech on public controversies, the standard that this Note proposes would
ensure heightened protection for the speech that is most beneficial to the public
sphere while simultaneously providing the targets of anonymous harassment a
balanced opportunity to unmask their attackers.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1473234&forum_id=2#18205781)