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Not-So-Anonymous Speech: How to Get Yourself Unmasked Online

September 18, 2009
by Jacqui Cheng
Associate Editor, Ars Technica

Jacqui Cheng

There have been a few cases recently that have involved previously-anonymous commenters getting outed by the courts. Where’s the line between free speech and getting unmasked?

You’re anonymous when you post comments online–except when you’re not. Though many Internet users still believe that their identities are as hidden as they choose to make them, online anonymity is not always guaranteed and, in fact, there’s no way to stay truly anonymous. There is always a company somewhere that has information that can be traced back to you, whether it’s Google (GOOG) or your ISP, and judges have shown themselves willing to issue subpoenas to unmask anonymous posters.

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