Idaho legislator Steve Hartgen doesn’t like some of what he sees on the Internet. Anonymous bloggers and commentors who can say whatever they want, while hiding behind a mask of secrecy. So he’s working an a law that would require people to use their real name when posting online
Here’s the bias up front: I’ve written about this before and you know that I’m cautious about comments on news stories. What I’m not cautious about is comments in general. I write for two different blogs and don’t mind a made up name — in fact, I started my radio blog anonymously before revealing my name about a year into the project.
As I wrote on that radio blog this morning – Hartgen has two problems: one practical and one philosophical. First, how on Earth do you police such a nutty idea? Do we have teams of Internet SWAT teams roaming around looking for violators? Do you subpoena every blog and website with an anonymous comment on it?
Second, philosophical. I think you’d quickly see this law challenged – and it would likely go round and round on first amendment grounds. Hartgen used to edit the editorial pages of the Twin Falls Times-News… and probably enjoyed the control of that process. The Internet is uncontrolled – and as with so many other things, this is a genie you can’t stuff back in the bottle.
I’ll have to admit, there’s a part of me that hopes Hartgen tries to introduce his legislation – just to hear the debate. I doubt this will ever go anywhere – but the idea is already stirring up debate… much of it online… and much of it anonymous.
