Court recognizes ‘right to identity’ for first time in online impersonation ruling

[yuiyoshida]

Kyodo



In a first, a court has recognized the “right to identity” in a case filed by a man demanding the disclosure of information on someone who allegedly impersonated him online, his lawyer said Friday.

While the Osaka District Court rejected his client’s request that the impersonator’s identity be revealed, it did agree that the plaintiff has the right not to be impersonated online, lawyer Yuichi Nakazawa said.

The Feb. 8 ruling came amid growing concern worldwide about accounts being created on social networking sites by using other people’s identities.

The court dismissed the plaintiff’s demand to have an Internet service provider reveal information identifying the impersonator due to the short time he suffered harm from the event.

The man, described as in his 40s and living in central Japan, is appealing the ruling.

In his decision, Tetsuji Sato, the presiding judge, defined the right to identity as the right to maintain the same personal identity in relation with others. The definition was in line with the plaintiff’s claim.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/06/10/national/court-recognizes-right-to-identity-for-first-time-in-online-impersonation-ruling/