Posting anonymously

[Anonymous]

If I post something anonymously, is there any way someone can find out who I am? I want to post something about a school but am worried about someone who works there who has "political connections". Could someone be sued for libel about a posting on DCurbanmom?

[Anonymous]

Nothing you do on the internet is anonymous ever. Having said that, the most likely way your posts would be exposed is if law enforcement has a reason to look into your internet activity.

[Anonymous]

The admin has the IP address of every post. Someone could, in theory, subpoena the admin and then your ISP to identify you. But if you post from your mobile device’s cell network (ie with WiFi disabled) that should be safe.

[Anonymous]

Also be aware if you name a specific person or school, there’s a decent chance Jeff might delete it if it’s potentially defamatory. It’s happened.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The admin has the IP address of every post. Someone could, in theory, subpoena the admin and then your ISP to identify you. But if you post from your mobile device’s cell network (ie with WiFi disabled) that should be safe.

They can also subpoena your cell network provider. If OP is really paranoid I would use a public WiFi like library or Starbucks.

[Anonymous]

Why would you ask about being sued for libel unless you’re posting things that aren’t true? Of course anyone can sue claiming libel but then they would be testifying under oath about whether it’s true or untrue. Probably why politicians rarely sue for libel when they claim things are false.

[Anonymous]

FYI, the administrator tends to delete any posts that call out specific people who are not in the public eye.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The admin has the IP address of every post. Someone could, in theory, subpoena the admin and then your ISP to identify you. But if you post from your mobile device’s cell network (ie with WiFi disabled) that should be safe.

They can also subpoena your cell network provider. If OP is really paranoid I would use a public WiFi like library or Starbucks.

Pretty sure the admin could only trace a post on a cell network to a particular carrier’s cell tower. The carrier could identify the users that visited the domain via that tower. But a region-focused website like DCUM probably gets hundreds (if not thousands) of daily hits from each of the DMV towers, so the carrier probably couldn’t identify who made the post in question (assuming the poster lives here and not in Idaho or something).

Law enforcement could probably do a better job but I think there are limits to what can be done via civil subpoena.

[jsteele]

We will provide any information about posters as required by law. In all likelihood, the information we have will not be enough to identify you. Depending on the effort that someone wants to make, they may eventually be able to identify you by obtaining information from other sources.

[Anonymous]

Nothing is anon anymore OP. I would not post what you are thinking of posting.

[Anonymous]

Ips change all the time, relax.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why would you ask about being sued for libel unless you’re posting things that aren’t true? Of course anyone can sue claiming libel but then they would be testifying under oath about whether it’s true or untrue. Probably why politicians rarely sue for libel when they claim things are false.

Agree.
Also, to win a suit they'd have to show damages they sustained from your lie.