A SUGGESTION by the Justice Ministry to lift blog users’ right to anonymity yesterday raised eyebrows at the House Legal Affairs Committee.

“Everyone was surprised with the Justice Ministry spokesman’s suggestion to lift the right to anonymity for people who register their views on blogs, which effectively will restrict the freedom of expression and democratic principles that are established through the use of the internet,” said Committee Chairman, DISY’s Ionas Nicolaou.

“This is a medium that can be used and accessed by millions of people,” said Nicolaou. “If people use their anonymity or their ability to have an immediate opportunity to express their views, this doesn’t mean that we should ban them or even restrict them from using it.”

A professor from the University of Cyprus told MPs that it was near impossible to either control or restrict the use of blogs; unless laws are enforced similar to those of China, which at times imposes laws restricting the use of the internet.

The Ministry’s suggestion was made during the Committee’s examination of the police’s response a complaint by journalist Makarios Droushiotis that he had received death threats on local blog www.christofias-watch.blogspot.com

The contentious comment posted on the blog read: “Only in Cyprus is it possible for someone like Makarios [Droushiotis] to live. Only in Cyprus is it possible for collaborators, whores and brownnosers of the conqueror (and the nobody in question is all of the above) to peddle their garbage.

“The traitors deserve fire and axe. Throw the collaborators into a pit and cover them with lime.”

Nicolaou said that everyone had agreed the force’s decision to raid the home of the blog’s alleged administrator’s – a well-known lawyer - and confiscate his laptops, was an “overreaction”.

“The committee will continue to discuss the matter, with the aim of reaching a consensus, to ensure on one hand that the freedom of speech is protected and at the same time, to see in what way we can protect possible victims from the negative use or exploitation of these mediums,” said Nicolaou.

He said the aim was not to put further restrictions on the freedom of speech, but to protect members of public who feel they are being threatened or blackmailed over the web.

EVROKO deputy Rikkos Erotokritou was infuriated by the ministry’s suggestion to lift anonymity. “So we lift the anonymity for precautionary reasons? They are suggesting this because they want to observe the political preferences of internet users,” said Erotokritou. “This is completely unacceptable and doesn’t comply with democratic norms.”

Another matter, he added, was the police’s indirect admissions that police they have the power to check personal data – such as someone’s IP address – at any given time and for any reasons, without oversight.

“If these matters are left to go ahead without parliamentary control, the country is heading towards becoming a Soviet state,” said Erotokritou.