In our news story published on 2 February 2006 entitled "Millionaire charged over hacking affair" we reported that Matthew Mellon, the well-known member of the Mellon family and successful businessman, had been arrested and charged in connection with allegations of phone tapping and illegal access to NHS systems and private medical records for the purpose of blackmailing famous individuals over controversial medical records. . We accept that our report was entirely untrue and defamatory and that Matthew Mellon has not been arrested or charged in relation to such offences at all. The link for this article located at ZDNet.co.uk is no longer available. . We accept that our report was entirely untrue and defamatory and that Matthew Mellon has not been ar. story, published, february, entitled, 'millionaire, charged, hacking, affair'. . LinuxSecurity.com Team
In a decision hailed by free-speech advocates, the Delaware Supreme Court on Wednesday reversed a lower court decision requiring an Internet service provider to disclose the identity of an anonymous blogger who targeted a local elected official. . In a 34-page opinion, the justices said a Superior Court judge should have required Smyrna town councilman Patrick Cahill to make a stronger case that he and his wife, Julia, had been defamed before ordering Comcast Cable Communications to disclose the identities of four anonymous posters to a blog site operated by Independent Newspapers Inc., publisher of the Delaware State News. In a series of obscenity-laced tirades, the bloggers, among other things, pointed to Cahill's "obvious mental deterioration," and made several sexual references about him and his wife, including using the name "Gahill" to suggest that Cahill, who has publicly feuded with Smyrna Mayor Mark Schaeffer, is homosexual. In June, the lower court judge ruled that the Cahills had established a "good faith basis" for contending that they were victims of defamation and affirmed a previous order for Comcast to disclose the bloggers' identities. One of the bloggers, referred to in court papers only as John Doe No. 1 and his blog name, "Proud Citizen," challenged the ruling, arguing that the Cahills should have been required to establish a prima facie case of defamation before seeking disclosure of the defendants' identities. The link for this article located at Slashdot is no longer available. . In a 34-page opinion, the justices said a Superior Court judge should have required Smyrna town coun. decision, hailed, free-speech, advocates, delaware, supreme, court, wednesday, reversed. . LinuxSecurity.com Team
The value of the Internet as a forum for citizens to share controversial or unpopular views safe from the threat of persecution would be seriously undermined if courts compromised the right of Internet users to use aliases, Caplan said. "It . . . . The value of the Internet as a forum for citizens to share controversial or unpopular views safe from the threat of persecution would be seriously undermined if courts compromised the right of Internet users to use aliases, Caplan said. "It is important for people to have that outlet for speech, persuasion and organization," he said. Caplan led oral arguments against the subpoena, which the judge quashed immediately after hearing arguments in the case. Caplan said that 2TheMart.com could attempt to appeal the ruling. The ACLU has stepped up its defense of online anonymity this year. In February, during the same week that it moved to quash the 2TheMart subpoena, the ACLU moved to block a state Appeals Court Justice from using the courts to ferret out the identity of an online critic. To protect the anonymity of online speakers, the ACLU has asked the courts to impose a higher legal standard on plaintiffs seeking to sue online speakers for defamation. The link for this article located at NewsBytes is no longer available. . The decision enhances digital privacy protections for individuals, ensuring that freedom of expression remains intact against libel claims.. Online Anonymity, Internet Speech, Legal Standards, Citizen Rights. . LinuxSecurity.com Team
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