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Last update - 20:28 13/01/2008
Web sites could face penalties for withholding talkbackers' identities
By Yuval Yoaz, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: internet, talkbacks, Israel 

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.
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While the Web site's editor and owners would also be legally responsible, they would be absolved of liability if they agree to provide the poster's details to authorities, as well as to plaintiffs in civil suits.

Hasson said the bill is designed to act as a moderating force due to the vitriolic nature of talkbacks.

The ministerial panel's approval assures the bill of majority support in the coalition. The Knesset plenum is expected to vote on the bill in a preliminary reading in the coming days.

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      1.   No Posts??? 19:35  |  akiva (zionist) 13/01/08
      2.   FINALLY! 19:55  |  IsraFan 13/01/08
      3.   everyone put your proxy on!! 19:58  |  false IP 13/01/08
      4.   That`ll see the end of Clickfool and Durson 20:06  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 13/01/08
      5.   Does it include those advocating "expulsion". 20:15  |  Labhras 13/01/08
      6.   Let the sites moderate the talkbacks 20:33  |  Mike 13/01/08
      7.   #5 Say Labhras 20:34  |  ballistic 13/01/08
      8.   false IP - I know 20:35  |  Mark Lincoln 13/01/08
      9.   HMMM.......... MAYBE SOME OF OUR 20:35  |  Robert 13/01/08
      10.   Very odd 20:35  |  Clickfool 13/01/08
      11.   #4 Say Margie 20:36  |  ballistic 13/01/08
      12.   But how to reach those... 20:36  |  Protected Civilian 13/01/08
      13.   Over-reaction leading to potential criminal charges 20:36  |  Avi 13/01/08
      14.   This law will be open to interpretation 20:37  |  Avi 13/01/08
      15.   Sticks and stones 20:47  |  Avi 13/01/08
      16.   Haaretz: Goodbye to the Wild West # 1 20:49  |  Clickfool 13/01/08
      17.   margie in ta 4 20:52  |  realism 13/01/08
      18.   Haaretz: Goodbye to the Wild West # 2 20:55  |  Clickfool 13/01/08
      19.   Margie sweety I`d rather say 20:56  |  Kris 13/01/08
      20.   OKay...so Israel will start to prosecute Zionists... 21:01  |  Dutch Dirk 13/01/08
      21.   For Margie in Tel Aviv # 4 21:04  |  Clickfool 13/01/08
      22.   websites face penalties for withholding names 21:08  |  bear 13/01/08
      23.   next, burning of the books and imprisontheir authors 21:32  |  dav zee 13/01/08
      24.   #16, #18 RE: Wild West 1+2 21:32  |  Kris 13/01/08
      25.   Okay, lets start now 21:36  |  Natallie Durson 13/01/08
      26.   Interesting legal position: either site or individual accountable 21:38  |  AV 13/01/08
      27.   Re Click #10 21:50  |  Esther 13/01/08
      28.   Re Click #21 22:01  |  Esther 13/01/08
      29.   #2 Finnally 22:03  |  BobUSA 13/01/08
      30.   #5the end of labarse of arabia from "ireland " 22:04  |  victor hardman 13/01/08
      31.   talkback info to police 22:09  |  Roland Nilsson 13/01/08
      32.   Is the the law? I would like to know. 22:11  |  ManInTheMiddle 13/01/08
      33.   idea identification database....FREE SPEECH!!!!!!!! 22:12  |  Ben Uziel 13/01/08
      34.   So, are we finally hitting a nerve. ..? 22:30  |  Stephen. 13/01/08
      35.   Israel is a fascist state..and I hate it very very 22:32  |  Murphy 13/01/08
      36.   Hmm I see I touched several tender spots 22:33  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 13/01/08
      37.   Hold your horses you anti-semites! remember a couple of years 22:34  |  Mefisto 13/01/08
      38.   What happened to Freedom Of Speech?? 22:59  |  Aaron 13/01/08
      39.   Haaretz Moderator: please post the bill in English translation. 23:07  |  avigdor 13/01/08
      40.   Murphy #35 - Israel Is A Pluralistic Democracy 23:39  |  Laguna Geno 13/01/08
      41.   Futile silliness 23:41  |  Natallie Durson 13/01/08
      42.   If You Really Mean What You Say Why Hide Your ID? 23:42  |  Laguna Geno 13/01/08
      43.   # 39...Makes sense. Just check before you print 23:43  |  Stephen. 13/01/08
      44.   10 is real Clickfool 00:03  |  Cheshire Cat 14/01/08
      45.   Haaretz is the Perfect Place to Find NeoNazis and Terrorists 00:07  |  Jane 14/01/08
      46.   #30 victorpaul Harrisman 00:08  |  Labhras 14/01/08
      47.   @Aaron | #39 00:17  |  Balagan 14/01/08
      48.   #35, Murphy, please recognize... 00:20  |  TALL GUY 14/01/08
      49.   Where will this Bill draw the line? 00:32  |  AliciaYasmeen 14/01/08
      50.   Makes no difference 00:49  |  Chris Linthwaite 14/01/08
      51.   senseless law 01:04  |  Chris Linthwaite 14/01/08
      52.   Clickfool, #21 01:21  |  Rubin 14/01/08
      53.   inside israel its not the arabs who are seen as dangerous but jew 01:34  |  yaqov 14/01/08
      54.   Regulation necessary 01:52  |  Motic 14/01/08
      55.   Guys, by responding to such as clickfool you encourage the fool b 01:54  |  David Turner 14/01/08
      56.   #7,11 when you kiss arab/muslim ass,do you have to push that big 02:48  |  terrornator 14/01/08
      57.   BALLISTIC 03:05  |  TOBIA 14/01/08
      58.   WE SHOULD NEVER FORGET 03:09  |  TOBIA 14/01/08
      59.   #19, Kris... 04:42  |  Silvienne 14/01/08
      60.   #55, David Turner...about Clickfool 04:45  |  Silvienne 14/01/08
      61.   yaqov or yakoob in Jerusalem: if things are so bad for you in 07:22  |  avigdor 14/01/08
      62.   #56 Say Terrornator, do you imbibe? 07:56  |  ballistic 14/01/08
      63.   #57 Say Tobia; I beg to differ with you!! 08:04  |  ballistic 14/01/08
      64.   #58 BTW Tobia 08:06  |  ballistic 14/01/08
      65.   Own supporters to suffer 11:25  |  Henry 14/01/08
      66.   Clickfool 13:59  |  Nik Miller 14/01/08
      67.   How beautiful FREEDOM is !!! 21:06  |  Linda Rivera 14/01/08
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