French Senator Proposes Outlawing Anonymous Blogging
from the no-anonymity-allowed dept
Reader Kurata alerts us to a proposal put forth by a French politician, Jean-Louis Masson, that would outlaw anonymous blogging (Google translation from the original French). The law says that anyone who "edits... a non-professional communication service online" must provide full identification information, including first and last names, full location and phone number.The article notes that many people are reasonably upset about this proposal, pointing to the value of anonymous communications online. Those defending the law give odd reasons for supporting it, such as suggesting that it will make it easier to sue people. That doesn't seem like a good reason to change this law.
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and easier to punish people who disagree with you, and easier for employers to fire employees that hold a position that the employer doesn't like, and easier for employers to ensure that they only hire those who don't defend positions that employers don't like. and the legal system shouldn't encourage lawsuits, it should discourage them, and someone who wants to sue a would be anonymous commenter probably has a bogus reason to sue encouraging bogus lawsuits. No one should risk being sued for their opinion.
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Re:
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This is very important to me, unless Jean-Louis Masson believes in allowing suicide.
So it would make him an advocate for assisted suicide if he killed my bot, so my bot is okay, right?
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Anonymous Commenting
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It appears the senator in question was the subject of deffamation on a blog in his home town and he didn't realize there are methods setup so he could sue. He'll be made to realize that he has options and this whole episode will go away. I wouldn't worry about it. (The man admitted he didn't know what Twitter or the iPad are and that he didn't care...)
It appears though that internauts (french internet users) have been pretty active digging up and bringing to the surface every little dirty secret that could be found about that senator. He's probably regretting pissing them off now.
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My only question
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Re: My only question
But soon you won't be able to renew your driver's license without paying off all your debts owed to foreign governments...
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Why do you Mike allow anonymous commenting here @ techdirt ?
protects whistle blowers ?
too lazy to set up another system?
Many sites require registration , and it seems to work ok ( NY Times for one), so do you feel anonymous posts are an asset to techdirt's readers and posters ?
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Re: Why do you Mike allow anonymous commenting here @ techdirt ?
We already have a system that works, another system that does what? Serves corporate interests? No thanks. What other system?
How about this, set up the other system (which exists) and if it works so well no one would find a need to be anonymous. To the extent that people find the need to be anonymous it means the other system isn't working. Oh wait, there is already another system outside of anonymity that allegedly protects whistleblowers and those who disagree with the mainstream media, the government, big corporations, and the status quo and it basically doesn't work. No one is against another system, you are free to set it up, but that doesn't mean we should abolish this system either.
"Many sites require registration , and it seems to work ok"
Works OK for who, those specific sites and for those who don't mind not being anonymous? but for those who do, it doesn't work OK and for many people it doesn't work OK. and apparently for you it doesn't work OK either because you're anonymous too.
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Re: Why do you Mike allow anonymous commenting here @ techdirt ?
How does requiring registration benefit or encourage the community?
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Re: Re: Why do you Mike allow anonymous commenting here @ techdirt ?
Exactly . That weakens the conversation,
Instead of a good honest debate , based on fact and principle,
you get Nitpicking Pirate Logic, insults ,
people claiming PhDs,
and just a lot of loons.
(And sometimes me included. )
Now I am not saying that is all bad.
Sometimes it is fun.
But all that noise often makes it harder
to focus on a good debate
of fact and on the "conflicting principles" between us.
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Better Idea
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Re: Better Idea
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I, for one, would not have started commenting here if I had to create an account or type my email address.
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I, for one, would not have started commenting here if I had to create an account or type my email address..
I see both sides.
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Re: I, for one, would not have started commenting here if I had to create an account or type my email address..
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This French Politician is a horrible person
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Re: This French Politician is a horrible person
Way to understate the cornerstone of American society. I am however continually amazed by people from other countries who don't ever quite get how valuable a free press is, or secret ballots, or...
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Re:
Wait...
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This one time in band camp...
Coming soon to an Orwellian future near you!
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Just a quick link...
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It's very sad
And this friend is young, smart, articulated, well educated and wary of all things political and religious. And he still spouted child porn.
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Re: It's very sad
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