The Illinois Supreme Court says Comcast must give up the identity of an anonymous online commenter.The individual in question is being sued for defamation for a web post comparing a Stephenson County politician to Penn State pedophile Jerry Sandusky.
The politician's lawyer, Andrew Smith, says the same rules apply whether comments are made on the radio, in a newspaper or online.
"Just because you're out there in the dead of night behind a computer, it doesn't mean that you get to defame somebody using that, and hiding behind anonymity."
The commenter's lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Unless he appeals, the case goes back to a trial court where the defamation lawsuit can proceed.
