The first step was on April 14, when Nova Scotia Supreme Court Justice Heather Robertson ordered Coast Publishing Ltd. to provide identifying information about the commentators, who used online names like “scandalous 2010” or “LessTalkMore Action.”
Ms. Robertson said during the hearing that the court doesn't “condone the conduct of anonymous Internet users who make defamatory comments.”
Her order made it clear that online critics can't keep their identities secret.
The Coast complied, providing e-mail addresses and Internet protocol addresses — identifying numbers for the Internet connections to a computer.
Ms. Awad then obtained a second court order that required Internet service providers BellAliant and Eastlink to provide full addresses and names based on the computer addresses.
Ms. Robertson said during the hearing that the court doesn't “condone the conduct of anonymous Internet users who make defamatory comments.”
Her order made it clear that online critics can't keep their identities secret.
The Coast complied, providing e-mail addresses and Internet protocol addresses — identifying numbers for the Internet connections to a computer.
Ms. Awad then obtained a second court order that required Internet service providers BellAliant and Eastlink to provide full addresses and names based on the computer addresses.