Internet & Social Media Defamation · Legal briefing
Anonymous Online Publishers: Legal Limits
By Adv. Yechiel Rachamim Menahemov & Adv. Assaf ShpigelPublished:
The practical dilemma
A fictitious account publishes false allegations and relies on anonymity. Can its operator be identified?
The legal position
Civil Leave to Appeal 4447/07 Mor v Barak addressed anonymous-user disclosure and rejected creation of a general civil disclosure route without an adequate legal basis. An IP address does not itself prove authorship, and disclosure is not guaranteed in every defamation case. Identified-party claims, platform approaches, applicable specific procedures or authorised criminal investigation may be considered, subject to jurisdiction, privacy and evidence. Official source 1 Official source 2
Your next step
Preserve account names, links, times and full content. Assess lawfully available details and grounds for platform or authority contact. Do not purchase unlawfully obtained information or identify someone solely by speculation.