Bill > A08688

This bill proposes to amend the civil rights law by adding a new section that requires a web site administrator, which is defined as any person or entity responsible for maintaining a web site or managing its content, to remove comments posted by an "anonymous poster" (someone posting without their name) upon a valid request from the "victim" (the person or business targeted by the comments) or their representative. This removal must occur within 48 hours, unless the anonymous poster agrees to attach their name to the post and confirm their Internet Protocol (IP) address, legal name, and home address are accurate. The bill also outlines procedures for web site administrators to verify a request, including confirming the requestor's identity and determining if the comments are factual accusations or slanderous rather than mere opinions. Any personal information collected by the administrator for this purpose must be kept confidential and only disclosed to law enforcement, with unauthorized disclosure being a misdemeanor.