| Internet users face harassing and rude speech online every day, often from people who self-identify as "trolls." These trolls can cause problems in forums online, and when they concert their efforts, they can also cause harms offline. For victims of trolls' sustained harassment, remedies exist to help them stop their harassers, including legal remedies and Internet-based remedies like shaming and identity exposure. News organizations also fight trolls' harmful speech in the comments sections of their articles. Where trolls' speech inflicts injuries upon others, these remedies and methods of control can help to mitigate damages. When a troll's speech does not inflict any actionable damage, however, that speech should be protected by the First Amendment. Some jurisdictions have proposed legislation intending to limit the free speech rights of trolls, but legislation that extends beyond what exists now would likely only burden the First Amendment right to freedom of speech. |
