Backlash over MP's blog anonymity ban

A PROPOSED law in France forcing bloggers to ditch their anonymity and publish their full name and contact details has provoked a backlash among web users.

Moselle MP Jean-Louis Masson has submitted a draft law to parliament that would "facilitate the identification of website owners, particularly professional and non-professional 'bloggers'".

He said it was important that anyone who is criticised on a blog has a right of reply. If passed, the law would require blogs to feature a full name, email address, home address and phone number.

The proposal has been fiercely opposed online. Many anonymous bloggers who share insights into their work and life say they would never be able to continue if they had to put their real name to the blog.

Web hosting companies argue that the current measures are perfectly adequate - requiring them to co-operate and provide information about a blogger in the event of legal action.

One contributor on collaborative news website LePost.fr said the law, if passed, would be a serious attack on people's freedom of expression.

"The current legislation already makes it possible for the author of a libel to be tracked thanks to their IP address," they wrote.

"Imagine if you were critical of Carla Bruni's latest album and a die-hard fan read your blog and came and knocked on your door at 2.00 in the morning."

Overblog, which hosts 10 million French blogs, said the proposed law was unenforceable and risked having a "boomerang effect".

It said the law posed a danger for bloggers, who by revealing their identity online, risked being harassed by other (anonymous) web users.

The company wrote in an open letter to Mr Masson: "Several of your colleagues use blogs to communicate with their constituents. We are not convinced that they would be happy to reveal their personal contact details on their blog."