MSE forced to hand over users ID's - Court Order

Jedi_Mind_Tricks

Very interesting indeed,but have to side with legitimate companies on this one.

If people are using the anonymity of MSE and other forums to attempt to ruin a legitimate company,then they legally should answer to consequences.

Some people are unstable enough to use the anonymity of the internet to attack companies or just other users because it makes them feel powerful with no comeback,they can rant and lie all they want without thinking of the repurcussions for their targets.

There is genuine debate and criticism,but then there is senseless abuse and libel,very different things.
Companies need to know their faults otherwise they don't know what especially needs improving,god help them if they sue because a troll said their company sucks.

ChiefGrasscutter

What will be very awkward is if the users posting whatever they did turn out to be PR and marketing representatives of a competitior........rather than a malicious individual(s).

McKneff

Richie-from-the-Boro wrote: »

- IF YOU LIKE MY REPLY- CLICK THANKS ! - Not because my reply has helped you - or because it lets someone know you have read my post - but because its a way of getting my thanks count ~ ~ ~ artificially up -

I have absolutely no idea what you are talkin about, want to elaborate please.

I really coulndt give a toss how many thanks i get, in fact i have no idea how many posts or thanks I have, i never bother looking, just in case you were having a swipe at me.

My signature stands as it is, not your interpretation of it. Right.

And if youre looking for a fight, I'll hold the coats:D

Richie-from-the-Boro

McKneff wrote: »

I have absolutely no idea what you are talkin about, want to elaborate please.

I really coulndt give a toss how many thanks i get, in fact i have no idea how many posts or thanks I have, i never bother looking, just in case you were having a swipe at me.

My signature stands as it is, not your interpretation of it. Right.

And if you're looking for a fight, I'll hold the coats:D

- right yer on mush !, but I'll hold the coats, you can hold our wheelchairs :beer:

Richie-from-the-Boro

Seen nothing posted on MSE about this yet......

fadetogrey, lilac_lady, and crazyguy - you are missing the point ! If the details for ' Againstjpc ', ' GomerPyle ' and ' Ladybirds ' were handed over by Brendan, who incidentally would have no choice other than to do so if a court ordered it. It might have been a good idea to openly warn the remainder of all posters in all groups that they in turn may have their details turned over to ........

The_Grandmaster

I'm a bit confused though and perhaps I don't know the laws: troll or not, I don't understand why it's against the law to state a company is bad... Damaging their image perhaps...

pogofish

The_Grandmaster wrote: »

I'm a bit confused though and perhaps I don't know the laws: troll or not, I don't understand why it's against the law to state a company is bad... Damaging their image perhaps...

Its not.

However, the normal laws of defamation/libel etc apply and you would need to be able to justify/prove what you say and not make unsubstiantiated claims - Then you and any board you posted on would have a clear defence.

However, many shonky firms don't really care and are well aware that legal threats will make many boards pull the posts and back down.

Handing over personal details is a different level altogether and I would hope the firms concerned presented some pretty good evidence of malicious action from the folk concerned.

RussJK

The_Grandmaster wrote: »

I'm a bit confused though and perhaps I don't know the laws: troll or not, I don't understand why it's against the law to state a company is bad... Damaging their image perhaps...

If they can prove that the words were written without regard for the truth (including how diligent they were in fact checking), and that there was intent to cause harm (maliciousness), then they can prove that they were defamed.

MSE is technically a 'publisher', so if they weren't giving up the names of the individual/s involved then it would be MSE responsible for the words published. This is something they should be well aware of, especially given their policy of denying companies the right of reply when consumers criticise (fairly or unfairly) certain companies.

Personally I would welcome a bit more dialog with companies, e.g. when the representative from Overclockers.co.uk made some claims about the DSR which I disputed:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/46167717#Comment_46167717

patman99

So, if you want to post stuff about a company in order to destroy their rep, the best way is to take your laptop to the nearest venue with free internet and then register an account using details of a deceased person (even creating an email account in their name).

Now you are free to post whatever you want without fear of reprisal as no-one will know your real ID, especially if you move from free internet place to free internet place.

crazyguy

Richie-from-the-Boro wrote: »

Seen nothing posted on MSE about this yet......

fadetogrey, lilac_lady, and crazyguy - you are missing the point ! If the details for ' Againstjpc ', ' GomerPyle ' and ' Ladybirds ' were handed over by Brendan, who incidentally would have no choice other than to do so if a court ordered it. It might have been a good idea to openly warn the remainder of all posters in all groups that they in turn may have their details turned over to ........

If it is a true comment then you have nothing to fear but on a few occasions a poster will tend to stretch the truth to get members of the forum on there side as such.

And its the site that will get sued so they must comply to certain rules and terms if a poster is taking the mick and stating a defamatory comment then yes they should be punished for it, on the other hand if it is a genuine comment then fair enough they should be able to speak there mind.