Anonymous Bloggers At Risk Of Discovery

Think twice before you set up an anonymous blog - however tempting it might be to share your views about the Arts Council, or any other public body, with the rest of the world.

A police officer, and award winning blogger, (NightJack) has recently lost a case against The Times, allowing the paper to reveal his true identity. The blogger had taken steps to hide his identity by using a false name and changing specific details about police investigations, but a journalist was able to use his blogs to identify him.

Perhaps the judge was swayed by the content of the blogs - which encourage people to complain about the police - or by the terms of NightJack's employment contract - but it was ruled that "blogging is essentially a public rather than a private activity". This means that even if NightJack could have argued a right to privacy, it might have been overruled as a matter of public interest.

Given newspapers often rely on anonymous tip-offs, and this action could reduce the amount of public debate about wrongdoing (especially in the public sector), the result could be seen as an own goal for journalism.

So, think twice before posting any anonymous material - its not just the office party photos that could cause embarrasment at a late date.