Haaretz reports that a bill under Knesset consideration would hold web sites responsible for talkback:
The Ministerial Committee on Legislation approved Sunday a bill that would absolve Web sites of liability for comments published in talkbacks, on condition that the Web site agree to make the poster’s details available upon request.
Courts are already able to order Web sites and internet service providers to reveal posters’ technical details (such as their IP address).
The bill was authored by Yisrael Beiteinu MK Yisrael Hasson and seeks to determine Web sites tort and criminal responsibility for libel in talkbacks. According to the bill, internet Web sites would be defined as a newspaper, and all those who wish to respond would be exposed to law suits and even criminal prosecution.
My two cents: I don’t see anything wrong with bloggers being held responsible for talkback. Consider these points:
• What kind of free speech would really be chilled?
• It’s inconsistent for bloggers to criticize controversial comments on MSM sites — I’m thinking BBC Radio 5’s Message 62 — while rejecting responsibility for their own talkbacks.
• The public perception of the blogosphere has come a long way since one 60 Minutes executive dismissed us as writers in pajamas. The Knesset’s deliberations are a sign of respect. They’re also a sign that blogs have achieved a degree of mainstream acceptance that brings with it other implications.
