The decision of a judge to allow the identity of police
blogger, DC Richard Horton, to be made public could set a precedent
that sees bloggers reluctant to blog freely.
Horton, of Lancashire Constabulary, wrote about his experiences
of frontline policing in his NightJack blog, which won the Orwell
blogging prize. The blog mentions investigations and people under
pseudonyms.
A journalist from The Times
uncovered Horton as the blog's author, Horton sought an
injunction from the High Court to prohibit the newspaper from
publishing the information. But a judge rejected this and said
blogging is a public, not a private activity.
"For authors of blogs wishing to remain anonymous, particularly
authors of blogs that reveal confidential or controversial
information about their employer, this judgment serves as a warning
that the courts will generally not offer protection if their
identities are discovered and threatened to be published," said
legal firm Cameron McKenna.
Bloggers can no longer expect their private lives and blogging
to be kept separate.
Chris Skinner, CEO at financial services think-tank the
Financial Services Club and
daily blogger,, said the
Horton case showed that people mentioned in the blog under
pseudonyms could be traced in real life. "This could affect what
happens in a courtroom."
"As a blogger I am prepared to put everything I say to my
name."
Horton
received a warning from his employers about the blogging.