If people are not assured of anonymity online, it will have a chilling effect on their speech. She points out that other Internet portals, including AOL and Microsoft, contact their subscribers and provide time for response before complying with subpoenas. Chris Hansen, a lawyer with the American Civil Liberties Union who specializes in Internet speech, said that his organization favors at least two protections for anonymous chatters. Also, a judge should not allow a lawyer to issue subpoenas in these cases without requiring that the Internet service provider notify the potential defendant that someone is seeking information about him and giving him an opportunity to enter court to protect his anonymity. The Supreme Court has long recognized the First Amendment right to communicate anonymously.
Anonymity is a shield from the tyranny of the majority.
The Court pointed out that the U.S. has a long tradition of protecting the right to communicate anonymously, beginning with the Federalist Papers in the late 1700s. This subpoena was in violation of court rules and without notice to any defendant in the case. Of these, half of his comments were critical of the company and its operations with respect to the volatility of the stock price. AnswerThink, an Internet web consulting company, was founded in 1997 and went public in May 1998. Through 1999, the company's growth has been fueled mainly by numerous acquisitions.