Austria Considers Requiring Real Names for Online Comments

[Shrillland]

From EnGadget: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/austria-draft-law-would-require-real-names-for-internet-comments/ar-BBW9gcS?li=BBnbcA1

and Der Standard: https://derstandard.at/2000101677286/Government-Seeks-to-Eliminate-Internet-Anonymity-With-Severe-Penalties

It's not just China that wants to reduce anonymity online. Austria's government has introduced a draft law that would require you to provide your real name and address to larger sites before commenting. You could still use a nickname in public, but authorities would have an easy way to find you if they believe you're harassing users or otherwise violating the law. Companies that didn't honor the law could face fines up to €500,000 (about $562,000) if they didn't comply, and twice that with a repeat offense.


It would only affect sites with more than 100,000 registered users, bring in revenues above €500,000 per year or receive press subsidies larger than €50,000. There would also be exemptions for e-commerce sites as well as those that don't earn money from either ads or the content itself.

If passed and cleared by the EU, the law would take effect in 2020.

There are a number of concerns about the draft, though, and many revolve around those exceptions. They're meant to give young sites a chance to grow before they police their users, but they might actually protect the communities most likely to engage in abusive comments, such as hate groups that may have small bases and no advertising. There's even a potential conflict of interest -- the law might protect the ruling party's junior partner in government, the populist Freedom Party, from having to curb hate speech on its sites.

The EU might balk at the law, too, as it could punish European companies more harshly than in their countries of origin.

As always, there's also the simple question of privacy. While requiring names and addresses could discourage harassment and hate speech, it might also discourage people from coming forward with insightful stories and opinions. Moreover, this would turn sites into veritable gold mines for hackers -- if they could breach a database, they might swipe personal information for thousands or millions of users. Simply put, there could be a chilling effect on freedom of expression even as Austria attempts to preserve it.

In short, Austria's government is now putting up a bill in Parliament that's going to require people to put their real names and addresses down for web sites before they could use message boards in many cases should it pass. They'd still publish with their nicknames, but the authorities can more easily find people who are writing hate speech or potentially violent speech. There are so many loopholes and exceptions that some larger sites such as the Freedom Party's own website would be exempt. What's your view on this, NSG?

For me, this is obviously a terrible idea. Not only will people be more justly afraid of surveillance than usual, but putting all that information on the net is, as the Engadget article points out, just asking for hackers to come in and start feasting. Plus, there's no real way to explain how this would curb hate speech anyway since most sites that have it would be too small to be monitored under the exemptions.

[Shofercia]

From EnGadget: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/austria-draft-law-would-require-real-names-for-internet-comments/ar-BBW9gcS?li=BBnbcA1

and Der Standard: https://derstandard.at/2000101677286/Government-Seeks-to-Eliminate-Internet-Anonymity-With-Severe-Penalties

It's not just China that wants to reduce anonymity online. Austria's government has introduced a draft law that would require you to provide your real name and address to larger sites before commenting. You could still use a nickname in public, but authorities would have an easy way to find you if they believe you're harassing users or otherwise violating the law. Companies that didn't honor the law could face fines up to €500,000 (about $562,000) if they didn't comply, and twice that with a repeat offense.


It would only affect sites with more than 100,000 registered users, bring in revenues above €500,000 per year or receive press subsidies larger than €50,000. There would also be exemptions for e-commerce sites as well as those that don't earn money from either ads or the content itself.

If passed and cleared by the EU, the law would take effect in 2020.

There are a number of concerns about the draft, though, and many revolve around those exceptions. They're meant to give young sites a chance to grow before they police their users, but they might actually protect the communities most likely to engage in abusive comments, such as hate groups that may have small bases and no advertising. There's even a potential conflict of interest -- the law might protect the ruling party's junior partner in government, the populist Freedom Party, from having to curb hate speech on its sites.

The EU might balk at the law, too, as it could punish European companies more harshly than in their countries of origin.

As always, there's also the simple question of privacy. While requiring names and addresses could discourage harassment and hate speech, it might also discourage people from coming forward with insightful stories and opinions. Moreover, this would turn sites into veritable gold mines for hackers -- if they could breach a database, they might swipe personal information for thousands or millions of users. Simply put, there could be a chilling effect on freedom of expression even as Austria attempts to preserve it.

In short, Austria's government is now putting up a bill in Parliament that's going to require people to put their real names and addresses down for web sites before they could use message boards in many cases should it pass. They'd still publish with their nicknames, but the authorities can more easily find people who are writing hate speech or potentially violent speech. There are so many loopholes and exceptions that some larger sites such as the Freedom Party's own website would be exempt. What's your view on this, NSG?

For me, this is obviously a terrible idea. Not only will people be more justly afraid of surveillance than usual, but putting all that information on the net is, as the Engadget article points out, just asking for hackers to come in and start feasting. Plus, there's no real way to explain how this would curb hate speech anyway since most sites that have it would be too small to be monitored under the exemptions.

Could this lead to a ban of NSG in Austria?

[The Galactic Liberal Democracy]

Damn AustrALIENS and Chinese banning the internet again.

[Shrillland]

Damn AustrALIENS banning the internet again.

Osterreich, people! Not Australia!

Snip

Could this lead to a ban of NSG in Austria?

I don't think it would be banned, but people might be less willing to come on. Granted, I don't know all that many Austrians here, still less any that spout hate speech on a regular basis.

[Kowani]

Will this be effective in any way?

[Czechoslovakia and Zakarpattia]

From EnGadget: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/austria-draft-law-would-require-real-names-for-internet-comments/ar-BBW9gcS?li=BBnbcA1

and Der Standard: https://derstandard.at/2000101677286/Government-Seeks-to-Eliminate-Internet-Anonymity-With-Severe-Penalties

It's not just China that wants to reduce anonymity online. Austria's government has introduced a draft law that would require you to provide your real name and address to larger sites before commenting. You could still use a nickname in public, but authorities would have an easy way to find you if they believe you're harassing users or otherwise violating the law. Companies that didn't honor the law could face fines up to €500,000 (about $562,000) if they didn't comply, and twice that with a repeat offense.


It would only affect sites with more than 100,000 registered users, bring in revenues above €500,000 per year or receive press subsidies larger than €50,000. There would also be exemptions for e-commerce sites as well as those that don't earn money from either ads or the content itself.

If passed and cleared by the EU, the law would take effect in 2020.

There are a number of concerns about the draft, though, and many revolve around those exceptions. They're meant to give young sites a chance to grow before they police their users, but they might actually protect the communities most likely to engage in abusive comments, such as hate groups that may have small bases and no advertising. There's even a potential conflict of interest -- the law might protect the ruling party's junior partner in government, the populist Freedom Party, from having to curb hate speech on its sites.

The EU might balk at the law, too, as it could punish European companies more harshly than in their countries of origin.

As always, there's also the simple question of privacy. While requiring names and addresses could discourage harassment and hate speech, it might also discourage people from coming forward with insightful stories and opinions. Moreover, this would turn sites into veritable gold mines for hackers -- if they could breach a database, they might swipe personal information for thousands or millions of users. Simply put, there could be a chilling effect on freedom of expression even as Austria attempts to preserve it.

In short, Austria's government is now putting up a bill in Parliament that's going to require people to put their real names and addresses down for web sites before they could use message boards in many cases should it pass. They'd still publish with their nicknames, but the authorities can more easily find people who are writing hate speech or potentially violent speech. There are so many loopholes and exceptions that some larger sites such as the Freedom Party's own website would be exempt. What's your view on this, NSG?

For me, this is obviously a terrible idea. Not only will people be more justly afraid of surveillance than usual, but putting all that information on the net is, as the Engadget article points out, just asking for hackers to come in and start feasting. Plus, there's no real way to explain how this would curb hate speech anyway since most sites that have it would be too small to be monitored under the exemptions.

Just provide a fake Austrian/German name and surname provided by a generator along with a random address in Austria and problem solved! No need to abide by bullshit and Orwellian laws by the rightie populist diktate of Austria. Or simply use a VPN like Hotspot Shield to evade the law entirely. Seriously, nobody even thought that people will just insert in falsified data to evade said filters? Jesus fecking christ, the MPs who drafted it must be quite clueless.

[Shrillland]

From EnGadget: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/austria-draft-law-would-require-real-names-for-internet-comments/ar-BBW9gcS?li=BBnbcA1

and Der Standard: https://derstandard.at/2000101677286/Government-Seeks-to-Eliminate-Internet-Anonymity-With-Severe-Penalties

It's not just China that wants to reduce anonymity online. Austria's government has introduced a draft law that would require you to provide your real name and address to larger sites before commenting. You could still use a nickname in public, but authorities would have an easy way to find you if they believe you're harassing users or otherwise violating the law. Companies that didn't honor the law could face fines up to €500,000 (about $562,000) if they didn't comply, and twice that with a repeat offense.


It would only affect sites with more than 100,000 registered users, bring in revenues above €500,000 per year or receive press subsidies larger than €50,000. There would also be exemptions for e-commerce sites as well as those that don't earn money from either ads or the content itself.

If passed and cleared by the EU, the law would take effect in 2020.

There are a number of concerns about the draft, though, and many revolve around those exceptions. They're meant to give young sites a chance to grow before they police their users, but they might actually protect the communities most likely to engage in abusive comments, such as hate groups that may have small bases and no advertising. There's even a potential conflict of interest -- the law might protect the ruling party's junior partner in government, the populist Freedom Party, from having to curb hate speech on its sites.

The EU might balk at the law, too, as it could punish European companies more harshly than in their countries of origin.

As always, there's also the simple question of privacy. While requiring names and addresses could discourage harassment and hate speech, it might also discourage people from coming forward with insightful stories and opinions. Moreover, this would turn sites into veritable gold mines for hackers -- if they could breach a database, they might swipe personal information for thousands or millions of users. Simply put, there could be a chilling effect on freedom of expression even as Austria attempts to preserve it.

In short, Austria's government is now putting up a bill in Parliament that's going to require people to put their real names and addresses down for web sites before they could use message boards in many cases should it pass. They'd still publish with their nicknames, but the authorities can more easily find people who are writing hate speech or potentially violent speech. There are so many loopholes and exceptions that some larger sites such as the Freedom Party's own website would be exempt. What's your view on this, NSG?

For me, this is obviously a terrible idea. Not only will people be more justly afraid of surveillance than usual, but putting all that information on the net is, as the Engadget article points out, just asking for hackers to come in and start feasting. Plus, there's no real way to explain how this would curb hate speech anyway since most sites that have it would be too small to be monitored under the exemptions.

Just provide a fake Austrian/German name and surname provided by a generator along with a random address in Austria and problem solved! No need to abide by bullshit and Orwellian laws by the rightie populist diktate of Austria. Or simply use a VPN like Hotspot Shield to evade the law entirely. Seriously, nobody even thought that people will just insert in falsified data to evade said filters? Jesus fecking christ, the MPs who drafted it must be quite clueless.

It's a government bill drafted by the Chancellery Minister for Media, Arts, Culture, and the EU, so yes.

[Astoriya]

Will this be effective in any way?

Not very likely - plus, there's such thing as pseudonyms...

[Otira]

Will this be effective in any way?

Works for China, Citizen. Now submit.

[Shrillland]

Will this be effective in any way?

Works for China, Citizen. Now submit.

Yes, but China's had the infrastructure and the state fueled by terror for decades, Austria's just starting. I doubt we'll see Social Credit in Vienna any time soon.

[Badb Catha]

This seems like it would be ineffective.

[LiberNovusAmericae]

Government overstepping at its finest. Hate speech is grotesque, but it is not an impressing enough concern to sacrifice civil liberties, and it shouldn't be illegal in the first place.

[Abarri]

I think it's safe to say that reducing anonymity is not the same as reducing hate speech.

What they're proposing won't guarantee the latter.

[Duhon]

Will this be effective in any way?

I for one don't know, but even if it were? It's bait. And considering the source, the governing party, and the country... yeah...

[Ghost Land]

I thought the worldwide general trend was supposed to be in favour of increasing personal freedoms, not the other way around. This shouldn't surprise me too much, Austria being a province of the EU who likes taking away civil and economic rights anyway, but this is still seriously messed up and, as others have stated, asking for a data breach. "Let's track who's posting what on the Internet at all times, and if someone says something we don't like, track them down and punish them! No way this is a bad idea!"

[Internationalist Bastard]

I think internet anonymity is a right so yeah
No

[Shrillland]

I think it's safe to say that reducing anonymity is not the same as reducing hate speech.

What they're proposing won't guarantee the latter.

No, indeed. And with most of the larger hate sites out there falling underneath the thresholds the bill has, this will only serve to violate everyone's privacy.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

Will this be effective in any way?

For the authorities maybe. The problem I’m seeing with this is that this could potentially be exploited by the unscrupulous for doxxing and blackmailing people.

[Xmara]

This is a breach of privacy and really wouldn’t do anything in the long run. People would probably just give fake names instead.

[The New California Republic]

Will this be effective in any way?

For the authorities maybe. The problem I’m seeing with this is that this could potentially be exploited by the unscrupulous for doxxing and blackmailing people.

It could even be possible to make some comments while pretending to be someone else, with the intent of trying to smear said person. I don't see how such a thing could be prevented in the proposed system.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

For the authorities maybe. The problem I’m seeing with this is that this could potentially be exploited by the unscrupulous for doxxing and blackmailing people.

It could even be possible to make some comments while pretending to be someone else, with the intent of trying to smear said person. I don't see how such a thing could be prevented in the proposed system.

I’ve only looked at the proposal briefly but I agree with your take.

[Torrocca]

Damn AustrALIENS banning the internet again.

Osterreich, people! Not Australia!

Ostriches stealing your right to internet privacy? It's more likely than you think! Call 1-800-OST-RICH today to protect your internet anonymity from fowl feathery fiends!

[The Galactic Liberal Democracy]

Osterreich, people! Not Australia!

Ostriches stealing your right to internet privacy? It's more likely than you think! Call 1-800-OST-RICH today to protect your internet anonymity from fowl feathery fiends!

Ostriches are basically emus, which live in Australia.

[Shrillland]

Ostriches stealing your right to internet privacy? It's more likely than you think! Call 1-800-OST-RICH today to protect your internet anonymity from fowl feathery fiends!

Ostriches are basically emus, which live in Australia.

Damn....touche, indeed.

[Ostroeuropa]

Will this be effective in any way?

For the authorities maybe. The problem I’m seeing with this is that this could potentially be exploited by the unscrupulous for doxxing and blackmailing people.

The authorities can already track an IP address. This is basically a power grab on behalf of media types.