Liberal Alliance press release 27 Februrary 2008
Liberal Alliance declares its opposition in the most stronger manner, to Greek Government's plans to outlaw anonymity in the Internet and to any measure that will limit the fundamental right for freedom of expression.
Liberal Alliance supports that the right of the Greek Citizens not to publishise their name in the Internret and dissociate their presence in the Internet with their real identity should be protected by law. Compulsory disclosure of their identities, may have grave political, financial or other consequences against them. For example:
-Anonymous informers which may contribute to revelations of news that government, politicians, or even criminal gangs would not want it to come to light
-Defenders of Human Rights who want to use Internet's anonymity in their fight against oppressive regimes
Throughout history, intellectuals and important figures used anonymity or pseudonymes to publish radical or revolutionary ideas. For some anonymity was life saving. In Greece it would have been impossible for the 'Anonymous Hellinas' to write 'Greek Polity' if he was obliged by the then Turkish occupiers or the Church to reveal his true identity.
Today the protection of the right of anonymity, provided to the citizens of the whole world, by entities based in USA, is guarded and enforced by the US Supreme Court's decisions which state that the protection of anonymous speech is vital for democracy. Anonymity is a refuge against the oppression of a majority and it guaranties a constitutional principal: the protection of unpopular citizens from the vengeance of an intollerant society.
Liberal Alliance points out that freedom of expression is not sufficiently protected in Greece and considers the constitutional limitations under article 14 of the Hellenic Constitution as well as articles 198 and 199 of the Penal Code and the ammendments by the 1995 Law (passed by the then minister E. Venizelos) currently being enforced in the Greek Internet, as totally unacceptable. Similar measures can be found only in totalitarian regimes like Iran and China and not in liberal democracies.
Liberal Alliance considers feeble and superficial to base the assault to the right of anonymity, on real or imaginary abuses of this right during the citizens expression in the Internet.
If this happens with the enactment of a law, Liberal Alliance will use any lawful means in Greece and Europe for its reversal.
Liberal Alliance declares its opposition in the most stronger manner, to Greek Government's plans to outlaw anonymity in the Internet and to any measure that will limit the fundamental right for freedom of expression.
Liberal Alliance supports that the right of the Greek Citizens not to publishise their name in the Internret and dissociate their presence in the Internet with their real identity should be protected by law. Compulsory disclosure of their identities, may have grave political, financial or other consequences against them. For example:
-Anonymous informers which may contribute to revelations of news that government, politicians, or even criminal gangs would not want it to come to light
-Defenders of Human Rights who want to use Internet's anonymity in their fight against oppressive regimes
Throughout history, intellectuals and important figures used anonymity or pseudonymes to publish radical or revolutionary ideas. For some anonymity was life saving. In Greece it would have been impossible for the 'Anonymous Hellinas' to write 'Greek Polity' if he was obliged by the then Turkish occupiers or the Church to reveal his true identity.
Today the protection of the right of anonymity, provided to the citizens of the whole world, by entities based in USA, is guarded and enforced by the US Supreme Court's decisions which state that the protection of anonymous speech is vital for democracy. Anonymity is a refuge against the oppression of a majority and it guaranties a constitutional principal: the protection of unpopular citizens from the vengeance of an intollerant society.
Liberal Alliance points out that freedom of expression is not sufficiently protected in Greece and considers the constitutional limitations under article 14 of the Hellenic Constitution as well as articles 198 and 199 of the Penal Code and the ammendments by the 1995 Law (passed by the then minister E. Venizelos) currently being enforced in the Greek Internet, as totally unacceptable. Similar measures can be found only in totalitarian regimes like Iran and China and not in liberal democracies.
Liberal Alliance considers feeble and superficial to base the assault to the right of anonymity, on real or imaginary abuses of this right during the citizens expression in the Internet.
If this happens with the enactment of a law, Liberal Alliance will use any lawful means in Greece and Europe for its reversal.
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