Internet bloggers do not have the right to keep their identities secret, according to a landmark High Court ruling.In the first case dealing with the privacy of bloggers, Mr Justice Eady refused to protect the anonymity of a police officer who wrote a prize-winning blog called NightJack.The officer, Richard Horton, 45, a detective constable with Lancashire Constabulary, had written a behind-the-scenes insight into policing.He sought an injunction to prevent him being named by a newspaper, arguing that it could put him at risk of disciplinary action for breaching regulations.
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/lawandorder/5552019/Bloggers-do-not-have-the-right-keep-their-identities-secret-High-Court-rules.htmlAlso see:Ruling on NightJack author Richard Horton kills Britain’s blogger anonymity
Thousands of bloggers who operate behind the cloak of anonymity have no right to keep their identities secret, the High Court ruled yesterday.In a landmark decision, Mr Justice Eady refused to grant an order to protect the anonymity of a police officer who is the author of the NightJack blog. The officer, Richard Horton, 45, a detective constable with Lancashire Constabulary, had sought an injunction to stop The Times from revealing his name.
http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/the_web/article6509677.eceNight Jack blog detective issued written warning by police bosses
A policeman who used an anonymous blog to post personal opinions on the force and criticise government ministers has received a written warning but is unlikely to face further disciplinary action.Richard Horton was revealed as the author of the Night Jack blog yesterday, when a high court judge refused to grant him a temporary injunction to prevent the Times naming him.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/jun/17/police-bloggingBlogging detective has no right to privacy, rules High Court
A controversial blogging detective has failed in his attempt to protect his anonymity and The Times newspaper has named him. The High Court said it was not its job to protect blogging police officers from disciplinary action over broken police rules.The author of the NightJack police blog, which has revealed details of cases and engaged in criticism of ministers potentially in breach of police rules, claimed that The Times should be stopped from naming him. He said that the newspaper owed a duty to keep the information confidential, and that he had a right to privacy.
http://out-law.com/page-10099
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