You are here

Newspaper Ordered to Reveal Anonymous Commenters' Identities

The Fifth Circuit has rejected a newspaper's appeal against revealing identifying information about people who posted anonymous comments on its website, The National Law Journal's Mike Scarcella reports. The Times-Picayune has to disclose the information to a federal magistrate judge to review confidentially. The issue has arisen in the prosecution of a former New Orleans official. The defense alleges that the two anonymous posters are federal prosecutors. The newspaper's counsel said in court papers the order "implicates the important First Amendment right to engage in anonymous speech," the National Law Journal further reports.