Guy Accused Of Being Part Of Anonymous Banned By Court From Using His Real Name Online

from the say-what-now? dept

Mon, Sep 12th 2011 1:00pm — Mike Masnick

Ah, the bizarre legal results of confused courts and confused laws. Four of the people arrested in the UK and accused of being a part of the not-actually-a-group Anonymous last week won a small part of a court battle. Prosecutors apparently had asked the court to bar the four from using Twitter or other social networking and chat services, such as TinyChat, arguing that "Anonymous as a group continues to be active." The court decided that it would not issue such a complete ban, though it had already blocked them from using IRC. Instead, it said that they could continue to use social networking and chat programs... but not use their existing online personas. It is, therefore, somewhat ironic that one of the people in question used his real first name as his online persona previously:

Peter David-Gibson, aged 20 from Hartlepool, who went by the online nickname �Peter�

Yes, you read that right. A guy accused of being Anonymous, but who used his real name online, can now no longer use his real name... because he may have been a part of Anonymous. That makes sense.

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Filed Under: anonymous, arrests, real names, social media, uk

38 Comments

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The eejit (profile), 12 Sep 2011 @ 1:13pm

WARNING: may contain added sarcasm
So he's not allowed to use his real name, big deal! He's obviously a Commie Nazi Terrorist Muslim Jew, so he has no rights!
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That Anonymous Coward (profile), 12 Sep 2011 @ 1:19pm

Can he use some high ascii symbols and be the artist formerly known as Peter?

IRC is the problem! Ban them from IRC!
because they don't have emails and other contacts they can use...
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ComputerAddict (profile), 12 Sep 2011 @ 1:20pm

I think he should start using "TheNotSoAnonymousPeter" or "UserFormerlyKnownAs-Peter" they just said they cant use their existing personae, Or go all out... "PeterDavidGibson-SSN500-32-1010-432_Evergreen_terrace_Branson_MI-Age_20 wrote on your wall"
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Beta (profile), 12 Sep 2011 @ 1:21pm

Inspector Python, of the Yard
This has the makings of a comedy sketch. After narrowly avoiding losing the prisoners altogether when they stated their names (and ceased to be Anonymous), the court forbade them to participate in social networks using their own names-- the one act that would be completely irrelevant to the charges against them. Or maybe it was a trap, and the police were monitoring every message in hopes of catching one signed "Anonymous". Sort of like forbidding an accused car thief to ride the tube; the accused leaves the court building on foot, past the parking lot, while hordes of CID men crouch behind the hedge, waiting...
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6, 12 Sep 2011 @ 1:22pm

Well I guess we know how they got found out then don't we? Obviously the guy using his real name blew it for them.
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6, 12 Sep 2011 @ 1:22pm

Well I guess we know how they got found out then don't we? Obviously the guy using his real name blew it for them.
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:Lobo Santo (profile), 12 Sep 2011 @ 1:22pm

Re: WARNING: may contain added sarcasm
Hey, the CNTMJ is actually a non-profit charitable organization just looking to clear their name(s) of all the humbug connotations with which they've been affiliated, and how dare you smear their good name by associating them with a member of Anonymous.

;-P
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Ima Fish (profile), 12 Sep 2011 @ 1:32pm

One of these days I'm going to buy a softer desk. Does Nerf make desktops?
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Anonymous Coward, 12 Sep 2011 @ 1:42pm

Maybe they don't want followers to read his opinions and take him seriously. Not that I agree with the ruling.
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Dark Helmet (profile), 12 Sep 2011 @ 1:42pm

Re:
They do, but everytime you sit down you get shot with a highly stylized yellow and black foam arrow. It's fucking irritating....
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Anonymous Coward, 12 Sep 2011 @ 1:43pm

Re:
They should, but Apple holds the design patent on rounded corners.
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Anonymous Coward, 12 Sep 2011 @ 1:49pm

Re: Re:
I have a load of Nerf desktops that I bought in Malta for $200 that I would be happy to sell you for $150, at quite a handsome profit to myself I might add.

How? You ask. Ah ha, there is a Catch...
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Anonymous Coward, 12 Sep 2011 @ 1:52pm

Hopefully this is the end....
...of anonymity on the internet. If not, it's definitely the beginning of the end. Remember today, all of you anonymous people. It will live on forever.
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Anonymous Coward, 12 Sep 2011 @ 2:25pm

Re: Hopefully this is the end....
oh the irony!
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tebee (profile), 12 Sep 2011 @ 2:32pm

He's still banned from at least one
So I guess no Google+ account for him?
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Digitari, 12 Sep 2011 @ 2:34pm

Re: Hopefully this is the end....
Really!?!
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Anonymous Coward, 12 Sep 2011 @ 3:56pm

Re: ComputerAddict
Why bother? peter with a lowercase P should be enough.

The most important thing seems to be that he doesn't use his existing accounts.
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Anonymous Coward, 12 Sep 2011 @ 3:57pm

Re: Re: Hopefully this is the end....
Really what? You don't like it? Get with the times, buddy. You'll no longer be able to skulk around like a thief in the night.
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Anonymous Coward, 12 Sep 2011 @ 4:25pm

Re: Re: Re: Hopefully this is the end....
yeah, all those Iranian dissidents will no longer be able to escape the Hand of Justice!
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Anonymous Coward, 12 Sep 2011 @ 6:40pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Hopefully this is the end....
Exactly. At least one of you freetards gets it.
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Anonymous Coward, 12 Sep 2011 @ 10:29pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Hopefully this is the end....
Many IP critics and Techdirt supporters already identify themselves here on Techdirt and elsewhere. From what I can tell, the ones who are mostly anonymous are IP maximists and techdirt critics. If anything, IP maximists should be the ones fighting for anonymity a whole lot more than IP critics. I suspect that Internet anonymity abolition will not change the commentary of most (already non-anonymous) IP critics and techdirt followers, if anything, it will reduce the trolling of IP maximists and it will force them not to impersonate IP critics in order to make them look bad.

Let me give you a hint. Anonymity does not serve IP critics and techdirt followers nearly as much as it servers IP maximists and techdirt critics. While I'm anonymous, and I completely support your (and my and everyone's) right to comment anonymously, look around. Many (probably most) techdirt followers are non-anonymous. You can click their links and it'll take you right to their website, with their first and last names (and sometimes a picture of them) right on their website. You can then use that info to find their facebook and other social networking channels. MM is non-anonymous. In case you haven't noticed, the ones that are anonymous here are techdirt critics. So, yes, if the government abolishes anonymity, lets see who that harms the most.
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B Pickel (profile), 12 Sep 2011 @ 10:54pm

Re: Re: Re:
Is your handsome profit $350?
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Butcherer79 (profile), 13 Sep 2011 @ 4:41am

Re: Re: Hopefully this is the end....
Oh the double irony of it all, an AC calling out another AC who's calling for the end of the A part....

Just coward it is then (A)C numero uno...
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snidely (profile), 13 Sep 2011 @ 5:50am

Re: He's still banned from at least one
I would love to see the back and forth with Google on this...

Google: **Deleted** David-Gibson is not your real name.
PDG: I'm not legally allowed to use my real name.
Google: Why not?
PDG: Well, at first I was Anonymous, but then the court found out who I was so I was no longer anonymous. The court said that I could be part of Anonymous, but I couldn't use my real name when commenting on Anonymous' activities. So now I'm anonymous because I can't use my name. We are all Anonymous.
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snidely (profile), 13 Sep 2011 @ 5:52am

Always have an extra...
The guy's already got 2 first names. It's not like he's going to miss one. Introducing...David Gibson.
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Anonymous Coward, 13 Sep 2011 @ 6:51am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Hopefully this is the end....
Let me give you a hint: The stuff above you was posted by AC. Think really hard about the comments. If it still *wooshes* right past you, please go read the definition of sarcasm. Also, thank you for taking time to feed an OBVIOUS troll.
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Anonymous Coward, 13 Sep 2011 @ 8:18am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Hopefully this is the end....
I detected that the comment was perhaps sarcastic in nature, but IP maximists and techdirt critics have criticized Internet anonymity in the past so I just wanted to make that point for them to read.
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Danny, 13 Sep 2011 @ 8:18am

Re: WARNING: may contain added sarcasm
Not very clever are you?
'Commie Nazi terrorist Muslim Jew'

ignorant racist idiot.. the downfall of this country.
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Well-known coward like everybody, 13 Sep 2011 @ 8:34am

He is not Anonymous anymore. He's Famous.
Grab a hay fork and yell with me "Ban the famous"!
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angryfinland, 13 Sep 2011 @ 9:52am

wtf
wow, and here we were just thinking about actually coming out of the closet and starting to use our real names. best keep them for the old facebook things and just go on letting angryfinland be the one what says stuff semi anonymously. Ah well, first norway and sweden announce the banning of anonymous accounts, then finnish authorities start talking about doing the same and finnish national broadcaster bans anonymous postings, now this, the irony we would all laugh if it was just possible.
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Thad, 13 Sep 2011 @ 2:40pm

Would "Pete" be acceptable?
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Cletus, 14 Sep 2011 @ 4:39am

UK
Why did I immediately know this came out of the UK. Every time I think Americans are the stoopidest people on earth the Brits or Ausies prove me wrong. Well done old Chaps! LOL!
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Ash Not Peter, 19 Sep 2011 @ 6:37am

Re:
Didn't the Simpsons live on Evergreen Terrence? I'm sure Homer knows his way out of a legal bind.
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Anonymous Coward, 21 Sep 2011 @ 8:43am

Re: WARNING: may contain added sarcasm
IDIOT
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Niall (profile), 23 Sep 2011 @ 4:47am

Re: Re: WARNING: may contain added sarcasm
Reading fail FTW! Ah, the irony of your ad hominem!
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Niall (profile), 23 Sep 2011 @ 4:54am

Re: Re: WARNING: may contain added sarcasm
I would also add that although The eejit is spoofing your Rethuglicans, he's British so perfectly entitled to be 'the downfall of your country' - although frankly your political parties seem to be doing a great job by themselves.
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cfren, 13 Nov 2011 @ 7:05am

This is a serious question -- why are all the techies on this website hand-picked ugly Jews who make even John Pospisil look human? John Pospisil wants it known that Techdirt's labeling him inferior because he is Australian is not taken lightly. I personally admire Australians because they are so low-class. We need more low-class Australians like John Pospisil!
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Wrans, 25 Dec 2011 @ 4:09pm

Ugly Jews like John Pospisil of Australia dominate the internet because their noses are full of Jew snot! Seriously, Jews are short, hairy, big-nosed slobs who sit around on their huge asses thinking up new plots to overthrow the world. I saw Pospisil's wife and she is the ugliest Jewess on the planet!
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