Bloggers – Your Anonymity is at Risk!
June 17th, 2009 by GilesYesterday in the High Court a police officer, whose anonymous blog, Night Jack, recently won the Orwell prize for political writing, lost his attempt to maintain his anonymity.
The officer had argued that what he wrote on his blog was in the public interest with its critique of police activity, and continued anonymity was necessary for this type of blogging. However, the Judge said that blogging is “essentially a public rather than a private activity” and so confidentiality of his identity was not protected.
The officer had brought the action to stop The Times from publishing his name after an investigative journalist had found out who he was.
This is an important decision concerning privacy rights on the internet – so, before you slag off the boss on your anonymous blog at the weekend, make sure that it cannot be traced back to you!