The selectmen of Cohasset, Mass. are issuing subpoenas to uncover the identities of those, possibly town employees, using local newspaper websites to make anonymous comments including personal attacks. Writing for Media Nation, May 6, 2013, Dan Kennedy says that apart from libel, newspapers should not turn over the IP addresses so the town could punish its own employees and would better protect themselves by establishing a firmer policy banning tasteless and libelous comments from its website.
Others find the matter troubling and argue that anonymous speech should be supported, “The First Amendment protects the right to speak anonymously, and that right should prevent courts from casually compelling the unmasking of anonymous or pseudonymous speakers in online forums,” writes Jeffrey P. Hermes, of the Digital Media Law Project, May 7, 2013,