Rehovot Internet is a Responsibly Talk: or Court Orders Google to Expose Anonymous Israeli Blogger

A precedent: Magistrates' Court orders search engine giant to expose an anonymous blogger who slandered a municipal council candidate

An Israeli precedent: A court has ordered Google Israel to reveal the IP address of an Israeli blogger who posted slanderous comments about a municipality candidate on Google's blog-hosting site, Blogger.com.

The decision was made after the municipal council of Sha'arei Tikva demanded Google disclose the anonymous blogger's personal information, claiming the blogger posted libelous entries about Council Member Haim Bluemenfeld. Council members demanded that the identity of blogger be revealed so they could file a libel suit for the sum of $75,000 against him.

Initially, Google refused to provide the information, but the Rishon LeZion Magistrate's Court ordered it to do so.

Judge Oren Schwartz ruled that Google must inform the blogger of the proceeding and invite him to attend the hearing or file a countersuit. After doing so, Google will reveal the blogger's IP address to the court.

Since the anonymous blogger did not come forward despite Google's request, the plaintiffs will have to approach the internet provider to disclose the name behind the IP address.

Source: Court orders Google to expose anonymous Israeli blogger. Ynet News (27 November 2007) [FullText]