Mr. Ryan Meade:

I refer back to my earlier response to Deputy Jack Chambers. The question of proportionality is really the big issue when it comes to verification of accounts. There are cases in which it is a proportionate response to require verification of accounts, but I am not sure we would go so far as to say that universal verification of accounts for anyone engaging in activity online is a proportionate response. On the other hand, in many ways, that is for legislators to decide. Professor Carthy may have a different view and he may feel that is proportionate. That is a matter for debate.

The only thing I would say is a variety of voices would need to be heard on that issue. As the Chairman rightly pointed out earlier, we are focusing on the activity of a minority and the worst activity of that minority. There is a vast corpus of Internet users out there who are benefitting from these services daily and their interests must be taken into account as well. Apologies for the fudge, but I encourage legislators to look at the proportionality of that as a measure.