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Canadian Court Orders Site To ID Anonymous Posters

Posted by timothy on from the we-call-them-all-spartacus dept.

An anonymous reader writes "A Canadian court has ordered the owners of the FreeDominion.ca to disclose all personal information on eight anonymous posters to the chat site. The required information includes email and IP addresses. The court ruled that anonymous posters have no reasonable expectation of privacy, a major blow to online free speech in Canada."

6 of 358 comments (clear)

  1. Good luck by sakdoctor · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I'm behind 7 proxies

    1. Re:Good luck by Kjella · · Score: 5, Insightful

      If you need to post anonymously, you didn't have free speech in the first place.

      You may have freedom from the government, but you can never be free from judgement by your peers. Posting anonymously has long been the best way to spread uncomfortable truths without facing the public backlash that inevitably leads to self-censorship. Someone with your sig ought to know, unless you're just a poser.

      --
      Live today, because you never know what tomorrow brings
  2. Something interseting by DaveV1.0 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I noticed the blogger doesn't mention anything about the case itself. I wonder how knowing the particulars of the case might effect the response of slashdot posters.

    --
    There is no "-1 offended" or "-1 you don't agree with me" mod options for a reason.
  3. Re:Anonymous speak Free speech by Yamamato · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Saying something anonymously is not part of that definition.

    Anonymous expression has always been a cornerstone of free speech/expression. The only way you can say it's not is to ignore the centuries of western commentary on exactly this subject.

  4. Re:Free speech? by tjonnyc999 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Anonymity has a higher purpose than being used only for hiding behind while making threats/posting illegal activity.

    It is one of the foundations of freedom of speech and democracy, allowing citizens to voice their concerns and opinions without fear of prosecution or ridicule.

    It reminds us to place principles before personalities, allowing logic to take precedent over emotions.

    P.S. It's a bit ironic to hear an admonition to "be brave for once and say what you want in the open" - from an Anonymous Coward. LOL. Good job. Alanis Morrisette would be proud.

  5. Re:Anonymous speak Free speech by roystgnr · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Saying something anonymously is not part of that definition.

    Common Sense would indicate otherwise.