Anonymous Web Authors Targeted by Proposed NJ Laws

New Jersey lawmakers are considering legislation that would allow individuals or corporations to easily find out the identity of anonymous writers who criticize them over the Internet.

Civil liberties groups warn the proposed bills violate existing laws and would discourage free speech in Cyberspace.

One of the two proposals, introduced by Assembly Members Wilfredo Caraballo and Upendra Chivukula, would require the operators of Net-based forums to remove any information that someone considers "defamatory and offensive." It also requires the website operator to disclose personal information about allegedly offending users to parties accusing them of defamation.

The other bill, introduced by Assemblyman Peter J. Biondi, would require anyone operating a website to collect the names and addresses of people who post information publicly on their website. It also requires website operators to establish procedures to disclose that information to people about whom false or defamatory information is published online.

tags: nj  law  privacy  internet