DeSantis denounces Haley’s call to ban online anonymity as ‘dangerous and unconstitutional’

Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) denounced former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley‘s call to ban online anonymity as “dangerous and unconstitutional.”

On Tuesday, Haley called for banning anonymous posts on the internet, arguing it was a “national security threat.” DeSantis responded on Wednesday, criticizing the idea as being against free speech and pointing out that several of the United States’s Founding Fathers relied on anonymity to publish their writings.

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“You know who were anonymous writers back in the day? Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison when they wrote the Federalist Papers,” the Florida governor posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. “They were not ‘national security threats,’ nor are the many conservative Americans across the country who exercise their Constitutional right to voice their opinions without fear of being harassed or canceled by the school they go to or the company they work for.”

“Haley’s proposal to ban anonymous speech online — similar to what China recently did — is dangerous and unconstitutional,” he continued. “It will be dead on arrival in my administration.”

In an appearance on Fox News, Haley responded to a question about pro-Palestinian demonstrations on college campuses across the U.S. by demanding an end to internet anonymity.

“If you look at social media, the misinformation and the dramatic sides of social media are instigating this,” Haley said. “Why? Because it’s being pushed by Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea. It is why, when I get into office, the first thing we have to do — social media accounts, social media companies, they have to show America their algorithms. Let us see why they’re pushing what they’re pushing.”

“The second thing is every person on social media should be verified by their name. First of all, it’s a national security threat. When you do that, all of a sudden, people have to stand by what they say. And it gets rid of the Russian bots, the Iranian bots, and the Chinese bots. And then you’re gonna get some civility when people know their name is next to what they say, when they know their pastor, their family members are going to see it. It’s going to help our kids, and it’s going to help our country,” she added.

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The call was widely condemned among conservatives, who voiced concerns over its potential negative impact on the First Amendment, which protects anonymity. Entrepreneur and fellow presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy was quick to join his fellow Republicans in denouncing Haley’s position.

“Alexander Hamilton, John Jay & James Madison wrote the Federalist Papers under pseudonym. Here’s what they would say to [Haley] if they were alive: get your heels off my neck & go back to England.”