Defamation on the Internet

[CatInASuit]

Over the last week or so, a twitter user has named and shamed multiple British personalities, celebrities and sportspeople as having obtained the super injunctions which prevents any reporting of misconduct they may have carried out.

In general, they want to prevent any newspaper reporting of sexual liaisons that would probably end their marriage and affect their family. Strangely enough, according to the rolls, no woman has yet taken out a superinjunction.

However, the problem is that some of the data loks to be incorrect and innocent people are having their name dragged through the mud due to an anonymous source on the internet. However, as the source is posting anonymously, tracking them down and finding out the culprit is not an easy process.

The questions is, is it breaking the law and if so what should be done about it?

[The Original An Gadaí]

I am curious as to whether stuff like twitter are somewhere between slander and libel. Ok the comment, the "fact" might be googleable, but in a sea of babble.

Somewhat related, if someone makes a threat to the US president or another prominent public figure on their facebook status or twitter are law enforcement types obliged to investigate them? Are there FBI units that trawl the net for threatening statements about Obama etc.

[OneCentStamp]

Are there FBI units that trawl the net for threatening statements about Obama etc.

Yup. Tashabot's flameout at the SDMB was after she got a call from Homeland Secutiry over a LJ entry she wrote that implied violence against Hillary Clinton, who was running for POTUS at the time.

http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=420009