UK Government Report Recommends Ending Online Anonymity

An anonymous reader writes with a bit of pith from TechDirt: Every so often, people who don't really understand the importance of anonymity or how it enables free speech (especially among marginalized people), think they have a brilliant idea: "just end real anonymity online." They don't seem to understand just how shortsighted such an idea is. It's one that stems from the privilege of being in power. And who knows that particular privilege better than members of the House of Lords in the UK — a group that is more or less defined by excess privilege? The Communications Committee of the House of Lords has now issued a report concerning "social media and criminal offenses" in which they basically recommend scrapping anonymity online.

Comments

obvious solution is obvious

[Anonymous Coward]

All Brits officially change there name to anonymous coward. Problem solved.

Outlawing this fun too?

[niftymitch]

At a local pizza shop. I placed my order
and paid cash. She asked:

Q: May I have your name sir?

A: Yes

After a while I hear on the speaker.

"Yes, your pizza is ready".

Re:Online in England, maybe

[Mister Liberty]

Anonymous report recommends: end UK Government online.

Re:That's the British for you...

[TheRaven64]

I think it's unfair to characterise UKIP as racist. Racism is an opinion, and opinions lead to policies. As such, it has no place in the UKIP agenda.