Anonymous Bloggers - Beware!

 Many people have no idea of the potential liability they face when they publish something online.   Often, the cloak of anonymity gives a false sense of security. In July, the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a District of Nevada Order requiring the disclosure of the identity of three people accused of conducting an "internet smear campaign" via anonymous postings against Amway Global. In Canada, courts are now also ordering ISP's to identify individuals who have posted defamatory material online.

It is important to remember that there is never any real expectation of privacy on the Internet; even postings made at public locations such as libraries and internet cafes can be tracked if necessary. Most bloggers and people responding to blogs have no understanding of the distinctions between expressions of opinion and libel. Don't assume that the cloak of anonymity can't be stripped by court order. Even if the owners of a website don't know a poster's actual identity, ISP addresses, as well as email addresses, are frequently stored and that information is subject to discovery under the proper circumstances.