Illinois State Senator Pulls Own Bill Threatening Free Speech Online

[GhostShip]

Yet another assualt on free speech is repelled 

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9237070/Illinois_lawmaker_hastily_pulls_bill_that_would_have_stripped_online_anonymity

An Illinois state senator who earlier this month introduced a bill that would have required anonymous online posters to reveal their true identities is planning on pulling the bill after taking intense criticism from those opposed to it.

State Sen. Ira Silverstein, a Democrat representing the state's 8th District, introduced the "Internet Post Removal Act" in the Illinois Senate on Feb. 13. The bill would require website administrators to remove anonymous comments posted on their sites upon request, unless the posters of those comments agree to provide their full identity.

In a blog post earlier this week, the Citizen Media Law Project blasted the proposed legislation as a clumsy effort to govern anonymous speech online.

Marc Rotenberg, president of the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) noted that the proposed legislation raised substantial First Amendment concerns.

Its pretty clear to all that when you seek to curtail free and open discussion of politics in defiance of your countries constitution protecting it there is a price to pay, it seems state senator Silverstein is unwilling to pay that price and has hastily backed down before he is pushed.

[silicon_toad2000]

would the same legislation stop spam emails?
priorities mate, want some votes, stop the spam emails