ACLU Defends Anonymity on the Net

October 1, 2003 - Privacy News

The ACLU has agreed to help a student quash a subpoena from the RIAA seeking her identity, arguing that the RIAA should first make some kind of showing that the person has violated the law.

The RIAA should be able to go after people who trade files, but they should do it in a way that is fair, says attorney, Christopher Hansen, of the ACLU. "There are lots of reasons why people need anonymity on-line and why it should not be so easy to lose," Hansen explained. "If the recording industry can uncover your identity simply by claiming that a copyright violation has occurred, then the Chinese government can use the same tool to find out the name of a dissident, and a batterer can use it to find out the address of a domestic violence shelter."

More information is available at <http://www.out-law.com/php/page.php?page_id=riaafacesnewbattl1065005296&area=news>.

Last updated October 2, 2003