Last night I spoke with Mike Godwin of the EFF about the issue of anonymous libel. Mike is not on the list, and I've copied him on this message. Mike knows more about electronic speech issues than pretty much anyone else. Here is my remembrance about what he said: 1. Anonymous libel exists. Just because the speech is anonymous does not mean it can't be libellous. If libellous speech is made, and you can infer the identity of the speaker, you can sue. 2. An anonymous remailer is not liable. In order to be liable for the libellous speech, the operator of the remailer would have to have prior knowledge that the speech was libellous. Since the operation of the remailer is fully automated, prior knowledge is impossible. Those two points are my summary of Mike's opinion. For further clarifications, please post to the list and to Mike. Left out of this message is any consideration on the _realpolitik_ of anonymous remailers: whether others will carry such traffic. I'd like to not fill Mike's inbox with clutter. Eric