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Could anonymous comments be phased off the Internet?

The Huffington Post is planning to ban anonymous commenters.

ACCORDING TO REPORTS in The Guardian and Boston Globe, website The Huffington Post has plans to end anonymity for commenters.

Founder Arianna Huffington revealed the change during a conference in Boston yesterday, blaming so-called “trolls” for the decision.

“Trolls are just getting more and more aggressive and uglier and I just came from London where there are rape and death threats,” she said, adding that her site needs to cater to a more “grown-up Internet”.

The site said the move will allow freedom of expression for those who stand up for what they say, as well as give their 40 moderators more time to engage with the community.

It is not yet clear how the HuffPo would verify its users’ identities. Previously, websites have asked for credit card details during a registration process.

What do you think? Should commenters be required to use their real identity?


Poll Results:

No (1565)
Yes (1399)
I'm not sure (378)

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