Newspaper Subpoenaed For Identities Of Commenters
Shelby County Commissioner Terry Roland has submitted a resolution for the Commission ask its attorneys to withdraw the subpoena requesting identities of those who commented on municipal school stories in the Commercial Appeal.
(Memphis) Lily Stice is appalled at a subpoena filed on behalf of the Shelby County Commission, “We live in America,” she said talking about First Amendment rights.
The subpoena is going after the identities of those who have made comments on the Commercial Appeal’s website regarding the fight for municipal schools.
“I’m afraid of what they’re going to use it for,” she said.
According to a Commercial Appeal article, the subpoena requested names, addresses and phone numbers of commenters from 45 different online articles.
Attorneys even wanted the comments that had been deleted from the site for being racially charged....
Some commenting online at commercialappeal.com are livid they could be “outed” by this subpoena. One person called it “disgusting” while another says it’s “an attempt to discourage free discussion.”