Greece considers ending internet anonymity to combat hoaxes

Moscow (ANTARA) - Greek authorities are considering a ban on internet anonymity to prevent the dissemination of fake news and hate speech by anonymous users, Digital Minister Dimitris Papastergiou said on Tuesday. “The main problem behind anonymity is toxicity – anyone, especially on social media, can defame someone and destroy their character without facing any consequences… We must find a way that requires platforms to verify account identities,” Papastergiou told the Euractiv news portal. He stated that in ancient Greece, society could openly express views and share opinions, and that model should “inspire” the development of a new form of “digital democracy.” According to him, the idea has been discussed by the government for several months and is now under review at the highest level, including in the Prime Minister’s office. Papastergiou also mentioned that there are several technical solutions for verifying user identities. Euractiv reported that previous efforts by Greek law enforcement to identify users spreading hate speech and slander anonymously have not yielded results. The portal, citing Greek government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis, noted that this initiative does not aim to eliminate anonymity or pseudonyms, but rather to ensure every account is linked to a verified individual.