In response to instances of so-called online “bullying”, Kentucky Representative Tim Couch has filed a bill that would make anonymous posting online illegal. The law would require posters to submit and use their real names when posting, rather than self-selected, anonymous handles. Furthermore, posters would be required to provide their email and home addresses. Failure to maintain this policy would result in steep fines for the website operator. Logistically, Couch’s idea is completely moronic and nonsensical. Such a policy would be impossible to enforce, as there is no simple way to confirm that the information users are providing is accurate. Furthermore, Couch’s desire for the removal of this essential protection of privacy is in complete opposition to one of the internet’s greatest strengths. This bill spits upon the very spirit of the First Amendment. If you have any doubt of this, investigate the 1960’s case Talley v. California, in which the Supreme Court ruled against a local ordinance that would make the distribution of anonymously authored pamphlets illegal.

There have already been stories of employers accessing and making use of compromising information made available on social networking sites like Facebook and Myspace. Linking forum posts to actual names would further amplify this habit of civilian spying and background checking. Forums are meant to provide a relatively safe medium in which to discuss topics of interest with like-minded people; they were not meant to give businesses and government officials another means to data-mine the population. As Americans, we have a right to put forth information without stating who we are. Ever hear of a pen name? The dangers of this breech of privacy and its potential abuses far outweigh any potential benefits.

http://www.wtvq.com/content/midatlantic/tvq/video.apx.-content-articles-TVQ-2008-03-05-0011.html