Ill. lawmaker wants to abolish Internet anonymity

An Illinois lawmaker has brought forth a bill in the state that would abolish the right of website commenters to post anonymously.

Those who don’t post their names risk having their comments removed, according to a report in The Daily Caller.

Called the Internet Posting Removal Act, the bill that was introduced by Sen. Ira Silverstein, states, in its summary section: “A web site administrator shall, upon request, remove any posted comments posted by an anonymous poster unless the anonymous poster agrees to attach his or her name to the post and confirms that his or her IP address, legal name and home address are accurate. Effective 90 days after becoming law.” That’s according to the bill text posted on the Illinois legislative website, under Senate Bill 1614.

Comments on the state’s legislative website have been critical.

Leslie Wheeler writes: “First of all, Illinois does not have jurisdiction over the entirety of the Internet. Illinois has jurisdiction over Illinois. … This means the only thing this bill would actually succeed in doing is driving Internet-related business … out of the state.”

Matthew Callejo, meanwhile, writes: “I’m sorry, I thought this was America.”

And this, from Michael Harmon: “What is with government officials these days continually trying to take freedom and privacy out of the equation. It seems to be getting worse everyday.”