The value of the Internet as a forum for citizens to share controversial or unpopular views safe from the threat of persecution would be seriously undermined if courts compromised the right of Internet users to use aliases, Caplan said. "It is important for people to have that outlet for speech, persuasion and organization," he said.
Caplan led oral arguments against the subpoena, which the judge quashed immediately after hearing arguments in the case. Caplan said that 2TheMart.com could attempt to appeal the ruling.
The ACLU has stepped up its defense of online anonymity this year. In February, during the same week that it moved to quash the 2TheMart subpoena, the ACLU moved to block a state Appeals Court Justice from using the courts to ferret out the identity of an online critic.
To protect the anonymity of online speakers, the ACLU has asked the courts to impose a higher legal standard on plaintiffs seeking to sue online speakers for defamation.
The link for this article located at NewsBytes is no longer available.
