Anonymous Newspaper Commenters Protected By Same Law That Protects Reporters' Sources

from the all-works-out-the-same dept

Tue, Sep 9th 2008 2:18pm — Mike Masnick

While other countries often don't respect the right to be anonymous, the US has shown a strong willingness to protect anonymity rights. And, here's another such case, but for a somewhat different reason. Gigalaw points us to the news that a court has ruled that the Billings Gazette newspaper doesn't need to reveal anonymous commenters, relying on the same state (not federal) law that protects reporters in the state from having to reveal sources. The law specifically says that news organizations are protected from being forced to disclose "any information obtained or prepared" by the news organization -- and the identify of anonymous commenters apparently qualifies.

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Filed Under: anonymity, billings gazette, commenters, newspapers, sources

11 Comments

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Anonymous, 9 Sep 2008 @ 3:16pm

anonymity
Isn't it nice in this day of the "Patriot Act" taking away patriots rights that the average American might still have one or two rights left. Of course, if the Administration has its way it won't last for long.
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Ryan, 9 Sep 2008 @ 3:20pm

no
This can't continue. We need to elect McCain immediately so that he can make sure that anonymous posters aren't allowed, and that the sites can be held responsible for the actions of their commenters.

(what? he proposed that in a bill a year ago)
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Slow Brain, 9 Sep 2008 @ 4:08pm

I'm trying to figure out whether #2 is really serious or just a troll...
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Anonymous Coward, 9 Sep 2008 @ 4:25pm

Re:
I'm trying to figure out whether #2 is really serious or just a troll...

Possibly Ryan can provide one or more sources
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CA, 9 Sep 2008 @ 6:30pm

Consider what Obama would do:

Take your money and give it to someone else.
Tell businesses what to produce and sell, who to hire and what wages to pay.
Set all commodity, wholesale and retail prices.
Control all energy supplies.
Control all communication networks and financial markets.
Replace all private health care with a government system.
Prescribe the curriculum for all schools
Determine which students get a slot in elite universities.
Diminish political and other speech.
Enroll all citizens above the age of 17 either in the military or in civilian corps for periodic instruction and service
Children could be required to spend the summer in government "youth" camps.
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Ryan, 9 Sep 2008 @ 7:36pm

not a troll
it was tucked away in this bill:

http://news.cnet.com/Senator-Illegal-images-must-be-reported/2100-1028_3-6142332.html
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Guy Fawkes, 10 Sep 2008 @ 6:07am

Everything is wrong...
Citizens shouldn't fear their government, governments should fear their citizens.

But as more and more of our freedoms and protections are stripped away in the name of fear, it's only a matter of time before we become a police state ruled by the corporations who feed the coffers of the political elite.

Hail Bush! Hail Bush!

Kneel to McCain! Kneel to McCain!
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Rose M. Welch, 10 Sep 2008 @ 6:32am

Re:
Most of that has been done already... Taxes, affirmative action and non-discrimination acts, federal curriculum guidelines, selective service registration...

Please cite your sources for the price-setting, market control, university slots, diminished speech, and youth camps. This is something I'd like to know about, if it's true.
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Anonymous Coward, 10 Sep 2008 @ 6:37am

Re: not a troll
That is more a problem with the legislative system then reflective of McCain's views. As is the norm in Washington, bills have so much in them that voting against them is voting against saving kittens but voting for them is voting to kill puppies.

disclaimer: I am an independent, still undecided, and have no proof that my speculation is correct.
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CA, 10 Sep 2008 @ 7:13am

Re: Re:Consider what Obama would do:
Please cite your sources for the price-setting, market control, university slots, diminished speech, and youth camps. This is something I'd like to know about, if it's true.

Try LISTENING to Obama instead being taken in by the cult of celebrity.

Wake up and smell the Socialism
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Rose M. Welch, 10 Sep 2008 @ 3:14pm

Re: Re: Re:Consider what Obama would do:
No sources, then, huh? I'm filing your comments in the round filing bin along with the cracks about McCain's daughter from Bangledesh. (For those not in the know, nasty rumors abounded that she was really his illegitamite daughter by a black woman, as opposed to an adoptee.)
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