Greece Discusses Banning Anonymity on Social Media

JAKARTA - Greek authorities are considering banning anonymity on the internet to prevent the spread of false news and hate speech by anonymous users, said Greek Digital Minister Dimitris Papastergiou.

"The main problem behind anonymity is toxicity - anyone, especially on social media, can slander someone's reputation while killing their character without facing any consequences... We must find a way that requires platforms to verify the identity of accounts," Papastergiou told the news portal Euractiv.

He said in ancient Greece, people could openly express views and share opinions, and the model should "inspire" the development of new forms of "digital democracy."

According to him, the idea has been discussed by the government for several months and is now being reviewed at the highest level, including in the Prime Minister's office. Papastergiou also mentioned that there are several technical solutions to verify user identities.

Euractiv reported that previous attempts by Greek law enforcement to identify users who spread hate speech and slander anonymously were unsuccessful.

The portal, citing Greek government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis, said the initiative was not aimed at removing anonymity or pseudonyms, but rather ensuring that each account is connected to a verified individual.