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ARTICLE · 23 DECEMBER 2024

Unmasking Keyboard Warriors: Tackling Anonymous Online Defamation

Taylor McCaffrey
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In the age of online anonymity, individuals can easily post harmful and defamatory content without revealing their identity.

CanadaLitigation, Mediation & Arbitration
Simon Garfinkel
Simon Garfinkel
Peter Mueller
Peter Mueller
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In the age of online anonymity, individuals can easily post harmful and defamatory content without revealing their identity. These anonymous attacks—whether on social media, review sites, or via email—can inflict significant damage on personal and professional reputations. Fortunately, there is a legal tool to hold these individuals accountable: the Norwich Order.

What Is a Norwich Order?

Taking its name from the landmark case Norwich Pharmacal Co. v. Commissioners of Customs & Excise (1974), the original Norwich Order arose when a pharmaceutical company sought the identity of individuals secretly importing its patent-protected drug. The House of Lords required the customs authorities, who were innocently involved, to disclose the identity of the wrongdoer. Lord Reid famously stated:

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