Kudos to Supreme Court Master Heather MacNaughton who ruled this week that Brian Burke's lawyer can serve legal documents to the folks who apparently thought it would be fun to spread vicious rumours via the Internet alleging Burke fathered a child with a Toronto sportscaster.
MacNaughton's ruling will, we believe, be a much-needed
wake-up call for those who believe they can tweet, blog and Facebook malicious statements about anyone when they feel the urge to attack. And, of course, sports celebrities are always presumed to be fair game.
These Internet trolls, as they are dubbed, seem to have deluded themselves into thinking they exist in some sort of protected Internet bubble where anything goes. Most spew drunken insults (at least we presume they're drunk) in comment sections on blogs, and,
sadly, newspaper and media websites.
The idea that the Internet is somehow exempt from Canadian libel laws is simply wrong. In fact, given the Internet's almost infinite and immediate reach, one would think that it would be even more important to ensure that people can't, without some very serious consequences, try to destroy someone's reputation.
Now, proving damages and holding malicious Internet individuals accountable, will be a challenge. Most of the comments/sites have been removed and even though Burke's lawyer can send documents and links to those believed to be responsible - it can be an expensive process to manage through the courts.
The individuals believed responsible for the comments have been given 33 days to respond to a message asking them to respond to the civil claim for damages. And, of course, if they can prove in a court of law that their statements are true, they would have a defence.
Already, one of the 18 Internet com-menters listed in Burke's defamation suit is saying he just passed on the rumour, not realizing that he could be held accountable for that action.
Well, this could be one of those expensive life lessons. And rightly so.
