New York Lawmakers Want to Ban "Anonymous"

Over the past few years, government officials have either passed legislation to effectively prevent American citizens from exercising rights that are granted in the Constitution of the United States or have ignored actions that suppress those rights by law enforcement officials. Now elected Republican lawmakers in New York want to further violate the First Amendment by passing a law that would no longer allow anonymous comments on the Internet. According to the proposed law, websites based in the state of New York would have to, “remove any comments posted on his or her website by an anonymous poster unless such anonymous poster agrees to attach his or her name to the post.” Seemingly unaware of the unconstitutionality of the law the “Internet Protection Act” will, “safeguard for people—say, politicians—who sometimes find themselves the victims of anonymous online invective.” Calling anonymous posters “cyber bullies”, Republican Assemblyman Jim Conte said, “too often online bullies hide behind their anonymity as they inflict pain. My legislation turns that spotlight on cyber bullies by forcing them to reveal their identity or have their post removed. Once a bully is identified, steps can be taken to end the harassment. Bullying is no laughing matter.” Conte may be right in saying that bullying is no laughing matter, but post an anonymous comment is far from bullying; especially if the poster is seeking professional liability, to prevent bullying, or persecution simply from making an unpopular remark. While most website administrators that would be affected by the legislation – if it passed – are doing little more than rolling their collective eyeball; not everyone is disagreeing. Editor in Chief of the Ne York Observer Elizabeth Spiers said, ”anonymous commenting is ‘cowardly,’ a way for people to "enjoy shooting spitballs without taking responsibility for it." Spiers; however, does not agree that people should be stopped from doing so. Journalists have long enjoyed the privilege of protecting their sources of information; often citing “an anonymous source” in their articles. Anonymous remarks on the Internet work in much the same way and should not be legislated or forbidden. Out elected officials upon entering office take an oath to uphold and protect the Constitution; not tear it down piece by piece as has been attempted by the lawmakers in recent years – violent arrests over peaceful protests violating both the First and Sixth Amendments, arresting journalists or confiscating their equipment for filming protests and gatherings, and passing laws that are supposedly designed to “protect” the citizens all violate federal law. Few website administrators seem to be concerned over the new legislation proposed in New York saying it can never pass; but then again the same thing was said over recent Internet laws restricting cyber freedom.