Ontario Court Protects Anonymity of Commentators on Conservative Message Board

Interesting that a Canadian gay rights advocate would want the release of information identifying eight anonymous posters to a conservative message board. Here in South Carolina, homosexualist, Christophobic, nihilist hate bloggers are the only ones hiding in the shadows. Why don't they "come out" and set an example for those anonymous homophobes?

From LifeSiteNews
By Patrick B. Craine

Free-speech advocates are celebrating the Monday decision of the Ontario Divisional Court to protect the right to privacy of anonymous internet commentators.

Richard Warman, the Canadian Human Rights Commission's serial complainant, sought the release of information identifying eight anonymous posters to the conservative message board Free Dominion, which is run by Mark and Connie Fournier.

Judge Stanley Kershman had ruled in March 2009 that the Fourniers were to give Warman personal information such as IP addresses and email addresses for these anonymous posters, whom Warman had named as co-defendants in a libel suit against Free Dominion. The Fourniers maintained, however, that online anonymity should be protected until it is clear that there is a strong case that a "John Doe" has broken the law.

The Divisional Court Monday overturned the decision of the lower court, upholding the Fourniers' appeal.

Judge Wilton-Siegel determined Monday that plaintiffs must now prove a prima facie case against an anonymous poster before website administrators are required to turn over personal information about them. “The requirement to demonstrate a prima facie case of defamation furthers the objective of establishing an appropriate balance between the public interest in favour of disclosure and legitimate interests of privacy and freedom of expression," he wrote.

The court warned that if disclosure of personal information were “automatic,” a plaintiff could misuse the system in order to discover the identity of anonymous posters, “with a view to stifling such commentators and deterring others from speaking out on controversial issues.”

"Because this proceeding engages a freedom of expression interest, as well as a privacy interest, a more robust standard is required to address the chilling effect on freedom of expression that will result from disclosure,” he added.

Warman was also ordered to pay the Fourniers $10,000 in costs.

“The takeaway is that it's getting harder for Warman to get his way,” commented prominent conservative commentator Mark Steyn, who himself has been subject to Warman's litigation. “The glory days of big cash payouts at the Canadian 'Human Rights' Commission are receding further and further into the past.”

The decision is available here.

And the Sodomite Troll Is...?

The TimesOnline reports today that the British High Court has ruled that "thousands of bloggers who operate behind the cloak of anonymity have no right to keep their identities secret."

We can't wait for such a ruling or legislation in this country. We wonder if the sodomite trolls of the South Carolina blogosphere would have quite so much to say about all the rest of us if they were forced to disclose their real names. It is hard for some not to look at what they write, just as it is hard for some not to look at train wrecks or collisions by the side of the road. One in particular is a living witness to how spiritually and mentally damaging his disordered lifestyle can be. But given that these bottom feeders purport to have such "pride" in their chosen lifestyle, why are they too ashamed to associate their real names with their daily spew of hate?

"Gay Rage" is Redundant: A Message to Our Critics

As we will no doubt see when Pastor Rick Warren offers a prayer for our incoming President, volatile, disordered rage seems to be part and parcel of the homosexual lifestyle. A Fox News headline declaring "Inaugural Pick Sparks Gay Fury," prompted an editor friend of mine to ask, "when was the last time gays were 'mildly vexed' by some turn of affairs, and expressed 'measured disappointment'"?

South Carolina's liberal blogosphere seems to have more than its share of enraged homosexualists. We don't expect them to like everything we publish here at Sunlit Uplands, and frankly, we don't care.

We will not engage their steady stream of insults, nor will we post coarse, insulting comments. We welcome comments of opposing points of view and will readily publish all that are civil. We will not provide a forum for those who coarsen the culture. Our intention is to defend, and in a small way to help in the renewal of a culture that is Christian and fully human.

So let the heathen rage! Our bet is that no one "is laughing" at their behavior, and most will find their manic rants rather tiresome after awhile.