NY Bill to Ban Anonymous Comments

Law rides roughshod over the first amendment

No, this is not another faux-news item: this story is actually as bad as it sounds. New York State Senator Thomas O'Mara has introduced legislation that seeks to combat cyber-bullying by banning a well-loved American tradition: anonymous posting online.

Assemblyman Jim Conte, who wrote the bill, said the legislation wouldn't just combat online bullying - it would also crack down on anonymous criticism of local businesses and eliminate "mean-spirited and baseless political attacks," often made by anonymous commenters.

The soon-to-be-doomed legislation, called the Internet Protection Act, would have banned any anonymous comments made on any New York-based website, including blogs and newspapers. Website admins would've been forced 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." And the law would have required the administrators to respond to any take-down request - even if that request was itself anonymous.

Should anonymous comments online be regulated by law?

[uberlord]

Ron Paul said something along the lines of, We don't have freedom of speech so we can talk about the weather, we have freedom of speech so we can talk about controversial things.

[ir0nw0lfe]

Yes we should institute this immediately ! How else are we to identify the dissenters among us. Once we identify these radical voices we should make them wear yellow or pink stars at all times in public so the public will be able immediately identify these dangerous individuals and know to ostracise them in the name of public safety for the good of the Reich,...er...republic.

[that1chick]

I agree with this bill! People should have to take responsibility for their words, sure you are free to say whatever you want, but just the same as face to face you own your words! After dealing with Topix... Hint hint... Its shameful some of the things people say just because they can be detached from any responsibility or to hide their identity, i think this bill would be beneficial.

[uberlord]

And of course there will never be repercussions for challenging the powers that be. That could never happen here, right?

[Rose-from-NoHo]

Give us your real name if you really feel that way.

[Truthinesss]

This coming from "that1chick" screenname...

[that1chick]

My name is Kalei, I log in with my fb acct and have my real picture with my politix acct.... My stance is unswayed... Next! Lol

[uberlord]

Not trying to pick a fight that1 but that seems naive to me. I'm betting you're young.

[Pflack]

If the courts allow anonymous monies into super pac's, I don't know how you can ban anonymous comments to do with anything or anywhere.

[Patriot_1967]

Good thing it doesn't stand a snow ball's chance in He'll of passing. Man Whatta prick.

[CanadianIndy]

If this passes, it'll be struck down faster than it took FOX to start praising it. The Supreme Court exists for these very reasons. The Constitution is uncompromising, and therefore will always be upheld.

[sugrblosm]

No. I'm not from New York but, for some, posting their views online which directly oppse their friends'/family's views is their only outlet to discuss their viewpoints.

[Iamjim42]

Another politician that wants to shit all over the Constitution. He will fail....

[MzPollytics]

It will never float.

[lochlomond]

After the Civil War, General Sickles, who almost created a catastrophe at Gettysburg by moving his troops too far forward with no support, engaged in an op-ed war in the newspapers under a nom de plume.His primary target was General Meade, who was criticized for allowing Lee's army to evacuate. Sickles was a "political general" who had already beaten a murder charge for shooting his wife's lover. No one was especially scandalized because he was exercising his right as an American citizen. How much have things changed in the last hundred plus years! This bill, which is clearly unconstitutional, would be used in the future to shut down opinion sites such as this, social networks and any other that allows anonymity. It is called censorship.

[dmtyne]

Lady Liberty does not look pretty w/ that red scarf over her mouth.

[CommonSense]

How do you get bullied online?
If someone is cyberbullying you TURN OFF YOUR COMPUTER! It's that simple.

[AreYouSerious]

I refuse to comment on this, for fear of retribution.