Outed model blogger plans to sue Google

[Swede]

Google was ordered to reveal Port's identity. I think her lawyer is taking her money.



Her identity revealed, a blogger who posted rants about model Liskula Cohen said she was the real victim in the case and plans to sue Google for violating her privacy.


A blogger says she will sue Google, which was under court order to reveal the blogger's identity, for $15 million.

Rosemary Port and her lawyer said Monday that they will file a $15 million lawsuit against the search engine giant for not doing enough to protect her identity.

"I not only feel my client was wronged, but I feel now it sets precedent that anyone with money and power can get the identity of anyone that decides to be an anonymous blogger," said Salvator Strazzullo, Port's lawyer.

A New York Supreme Court judge ordered Google to reveal Port's identity after Cohen sued the company to acquire information about the anonymous blogger.


http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/08/25/new.york.model.blogger/index.html

[Warpy]

1. Libel is libel

If you want to post toxic rants about somebody, stick to screen names instead of real ones!

[dem629]

2. I hope Google wins this one.

Like the story says: "the case will force people to recognize that the blogosphere, however anonymous, is not above the law."

As for the other side ("it could deter some bloggers who fear the cloak of anonymity could be lifted at any moment"), well that might be a good thing.

[closeupready]

3. I disagree with the court and Google on this.

And I hope Google loses, and if I were on the jury, I would likely find in favor of Ms. Port. That said, I'm not sure it's worth $15 million, but certainly, there need to be real punitive assessed, as well as damages in terms of breaching Ms. Port's privacy rights.

[TexasObserver]

4. She'll get her butt kicked ... again.

Any internet service provider could be brought to court and ordered to identify a blogger, and that's not a breach by the ISP of any duty to the blogger.

It's a stupid lawsuit, and it will get thrown out, sooner rather than later. This is a law point, and it's not a close call. Google is not exposed to liability.

This blogger has learned a valuable lesson. There is no such thing as anonymity on the web, at least not when someone gets a court order requiring disclosure.