The Times kills off blogger anonymity
And outs prize-winning blogger, well done lads
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The Times has overturned a court order which sought to protect the anonymity of a police blogger known as NightJack.
The blog, which has now been deleted, detailed the life and views of a serving police detective. Earlier this year it won an Orwell prize for political writing.
The blogger is Richard Horton a 45-year old detective constable with Lancashire Constabulary. When contacted by Murdoch's organ he sought an injunction to protect his privacy. But Justice Eady ruled he had no right to anonymity.
Horton has received a written warning from Lancs police.
The judge said Horton could not expect to remain anonymous because “blogging is essentially a public rather than a private activity”.
According to The Times.Eady said: "I do not accept that it is part of the court’s function to protect police officers who are, or think they may be, acting in breach of police discipline regulations from coming to the attention of their superiors.”
The blog was critical of many aspects of police work, some serving policemen and politicians. It also discussed certain cases, although information was anonymised. The paper claimed that some individuals could be identified by a process of elimination.
Lancs Police said Horton's behaviour was unacceptable and he had been given a written warning. ®
COMMENTS
WOAH... there, Mr. anonymity is "cowardice"...
@ "Chris W"
Again, you seem to utterly miss the point. This isnt about "cowardice"... OR, bravery. This IS, actually, about the, very, ABILITY to oppose those that hold "power". And, for your personal information (since you seem to have, somehow, missed it) "China" is STILL a repressive, totalitarian, dictatorship. They [Chinese authoritarians] have NOT changed one bit. Those in power have NOT paid any real price for their VIOLENT REPRESSION of "...the people". There are NO MORE, continuing, protests (or even real discussion) of the matter, in China. And, the world barely even pays lip-service to the incident, these days.
Furthermore, those that, "bravely" took part in those, non-anonymous, "Tiananmen Square protests" (those that are still alive, that is)... and, could not remain "anonymous"... are now in PRISON (or, have otherwise had their lives COMPLETELY-DESTROYED... by those IN POWER).
And, that is pretty-much the same thing that is happening in "Iran".
THAT, is NOT "Freedom"... Nor, bravery... Nor, "cowardice". That is simply... REALITY.
Your entire... if you want to do the RIGHT-thing, or release information that is VITAL to "public interests"... then, you MUST be willing to lose EVERYTHING to do it... attitude, may be fine for you, personally, or even me (I have never been shy of conflict, OR personal CONSEQUENCES, for doing what I thought was RIGHT)... BUT, to impose, or allow, that ABUSIVE-RHETORIC as the standard (of "freedom") has NEVER worked, in ANY "free society"... PERIOD. And, I reiterate, that it is absolutely ASININE to honestly demand it... and, CRIMINAL to intentionally MISUSE it to silence, truly, "Free Speech".
And, by the way... before you even start... just for the record...I chose to post "anonymously" (to this, particular thread)... to make a point, NOT to avoid anything, out of "fear", or "cowardice" (Please, see above). However, I do feel that the position that I am expressing is... very much... the RIGHT thing to do.
Re: The consequences of "free-speech"...
It's hard to argue with such a well thought out and reasoned response but I'll try.
You mentioned China, the world didn't really take notice of the Tiananmen Square protests until it got a good photoshoot opportunity and a lone protester stood in front of the tanks.
Currently there are protests in Iran where people are brave enough to go out on the streets and defy their Government. Do you think the world would take as much notice if they sat at home whingeing in an anonymous blog?
Sometimes you have to take one for the team.
If that's not for you then by all means hide behind the anonymity of a coward but when push comes to shove the only way to change things is to, as I have said, stand up and be counted
Repression thrives on cowardicy and people not knowing that there are others who are like them. When one stands up then others will follow, if you don't get past that first step then you are doomed to hide and cower and moan in silence.
The consequences of "free-speech"...
@Chris W
>> ">> "I never said he personally should, I said in general terms aplicable[sic] to all ACs that if it is a consequence of standing up and being counted for something one truely [sic] believes is the right thing to do then one should accept that. If someone doesn't believe enough in their cause to suffer the consequences of voicing their concerns then they should keep their opinions to themselves."
OH BROTHER...
That, is truly the MOST absolutely RIDICULOUSLY, asinine assertion... that has ever been made about "Free Speech". In fact, it has been so utterly dis-proven by thousands of years of human-history.. as to make the, mere, assertion the HEIGHT of IGNORANCE (just, look at every CORRUPT despot in history, or the many, DESTRUCTIVE, major religious-orders, ...or, even, China, today).
If... the powerful can, virtually, UTTERLY DESTROY someones life... if they even question the status-quo... then those in power can UTTERLY-CONTROL EVERYONE (even, their-own).
...And, they WILL ...And, DO (...thats just the REALITY we have to live with).
THAT... "Chris W"... is the very reason for "...anonymity". In the end, it has been PROVEN that ->IT<- (anonymous free-speech) is, literally, the ONLY THING that protects the INNOCENT, the oppressed, and the "publics..." TRUE "...freedom".
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