State looking to ban Anonymous Forum Postings

Kentucky Lawmaker Wants to Make Anonymous Internet Posting Illegal

[Demaestro]

Source:
[wtvq.com...]

If the bill becomes law, the website operator would have to pay if someone was allowed to post anonymously on their site. The fine would be five-hundred dollars for a first offense and one-thousand dollars for each offense after that.

I really hope this falls on it's face. I can see the benefits of it however making it work and the steps to do so are what really have me worried.

Once they provide we must ensure that user's are registered before allowing them to post, the next step will be make sure we validate the user. I don't know how they think making someone create an account with some fake name will make postings less anonymous.

Mickey Mouse posted....
Good thing I had signed up for this account so you know who wrote this.

[cabowabo]

This is either a joke or it is going nowhere. How do I know? Easy. The Rep. Tim Couch, is the same Tim Couch who "played" QB for the Cleveland Browns. If he performs in politics the same way he performed in the NFL, this will just simply sail "out of bounds."

[Korrd]

I wouldn't worry about this too much. As a Kentuckian we see posturing like this every time the legislature meets. They all need a few headlines for the voters back home and something for their core constituencies, all without stepping on any contributor's toes by actually doing any work.

A more balanced perspective of HB775's chances
Ky. lawmaker seeks ban on anonymous Internet posts [courier-journal.com]

Kentucky Legislature homepage for HB775
[lrc.ky.gov ]

Quick write, quick read.

[Korrd]

The Rep. Tim Couch, is the same Tim Couch who "played" QB for the Cleveland Browns.

Nope. Different Tim Couch.

[Moncao]

Would hackers have to register first before they defaced a forum using a new exploit too? How about leaving comments on media sites and blogs? Don't forget, people voted for this guy!

[menton]

What about the right to anonymous speech in the US once nothing illegal is being said?

[Webwork]

Why doesn't the politician just put a filter on the internet cable running to Kentucky?

That would fix the problem, wouldn't it?

:-P

[cmarshall]

Somewhere in all this, it indicates that he was a "victim of anonymous postings."

Welcome to the Wicked Wide Web, Representative Couch.

[rogerd]

This kind of legislation crops up every time some politician gets flamed on a blog or forum. "What do you mean you can't tell me who posted that? There oughta be a law!"

[cabowabo]

Nope. Different Tim Couch.

Thanks for the correction. He should consider going by his middle name. :-) More time being wasted on non-issues while the big ones go ignored.

[carfac]

When they outlaw anonymous names, only outlaws will have anonymous names...

[disspy]

Wow, this is the silliest thing I ever heard. Well, I think he choose the wrong industry for the political reputation boost. This bill will never go through, because it conflicts with hundred of other bills regarding web user's privacy. The politician these days are using really stupid methods to promote themselves, and this one is a real the heroic one, but his promotion campaign was successful - we know for him know, at least by tomorrow morning :)

[AjiNIMC]

I work in debt industry and people really don't want to disclose their identities as they fear their creditors. How is it going to help such people?

[SEOMike]

According to his profile, [lrc.ky.gov] Representative Couch went to Hazard Community College. I'll bet Boss Hogg and Sheriff Roscoe P. Coltrane are behind this scheme! I'm gonna call Uncle Jesse and see if we can get to the bottom of this. YEEE HAW!

I know, HAZZARD County was in Georgia in the show, but I couldn't resist. :)