I saw this today and while I’m not terribly surprised that people who don’t understand the internet want to regulate it, I was still taken aback:
Legislation In New York To Ban Anonymous Speech Online
In Rep. Jim Conte’s own words:
“In addition to cracking down on cyber-bullying, the bill also prevents people from posting anonymous criticism of local businesses. Too often, rival businesses will post negative and false posts to hurt their competition. With more and more people turning to online reviews, it is important to ensure that the posted information, good or bad, is from actual customers and not rival competitors.
Finally, the legislation will help cut down on the types of mean-spirited and baseless political attacks that add nothing to the real debate and merely seek to falsely tarnish the opponent’s reputation by using the anonymity of the Web.”
Is Cyber-bullying a problem? Yes. But this is throwing the baby out with the bath water. The internet thrives BECAUSE one can be (relatively) anonymous online if they choose. At the end of the day, websites can use existing tools such as Facebook Connect to crack down on trolling or anonymous content. People need to take responsibility for the content that they consume and share online instead of clamoring for censorship, even if it’s in the name of preventing things like cyber-bullying.
I wonder how these Assemblymen feel about anonymous campaign donations/disclosure rules and superPACs?
I agree with your “baby/bathwater” take on this. The real issue is how to deal with libelous comments made in an anonymous forum. Eliminating anonymity to curtail defamation is not the solution and would, ironically, result in a contraction of free speech rights. I’m not sure what frightens me most: the possibility that Conte and O’Mara recognize the irony or the possibility that they don’t.
There’s a recent trend that historians and others call “founders chic,” that is, the near-worship of this nation’s founding fathers. It seems particularly popular among Republicans. I have no idea whether Conte and and O’Mara kneel at the founders’ altar, but I can’t help but wonder what a guy like Franklin would think of this bill.
Ryan Miller is a quack who knows little about the internets.