BCT Editorial – 8/18/10

Other than as a prop, this editorial has nothing to do with Internet posters.  Why?  As described by the editorial, the subject posters did exactly what the Times does in its editorials and in-house opinion columns.  The only difference is we know the names of the Times op-ed authors.

The editorial says, “Because freedom of speech and press are essential to the well being of our representative democracy, we believe the courts should protect the privacy of the posters.”  What about the privacy of the targets of malicious posters?  Finally, the editorial failed to note what most of us know; “freedom of speech and press” doesn’t include defamation.