New legislation aimed at removing web anonymity Web Tips by Burleson Consulting

The problem of identity theft and people committing crimes using anonymous web identities may soon be ending.  The Internet has lost credibility largely because it is easy to pose as someone else, or use an anonymous ID to publish libelous or defamatory facts about their enemies.  This may soon change if other countries follow the idea of making people responsible for what they publish.

It's very difficult to trust anything published on the web today because people know that they cannot be held responsible for what they publish.  It's become such a problem that many projects have been established to filter-out crap and find credible information on the web.

Now, people can hide behind pen names and publish lies, reveal company secrets and invade peoples privacy, knowing that it is difficult to reveal their real identity.

This article notes that South Korea is planning to make people responsible for what they publish on the web by requiring positive identification:

"Online users in South Korea will be required to have their identification checked prior to posting comments on internet portal sites and news media web sites in order to prevent cyber crimes such as libel and violation of privacy."

It's important to note that publishing anonymous opinions is allowed and free speech is still completely protected.  The identify of those using pen names is protected, unless a court decides that the person defamed of damaged someone unfairly:

"Another issue affecting South Korean cyberspace is rampant identity theft. The majority of web sites require users to enter their national identification number, which are then easily snatched up by thieves and used in identity-theft-related crimes such as setting up bogus accounts or services or to visit illicit web sites."