Court Decision Protects Online Anonymity

The Ontario Divisional Court released a unanimous decision today that will protect the anonymity of online speakers.  The court held that before the identity of anonymous online users accused of defamation can be revealed, the plaintiff must convince the court there is an adequate basis for ordering such disclosure.  This overturns a lower court's decision that identities must be disclosed automatically.

• Warman v. Fournier
• CIPPIC's Factum