Email Clues (continued)

• If a remailer is used, the headers can identify the name and address of the sending remailer but not where the email originated.

• Court orders may force Remail administrators to reveal the sender's identity. Some administrators take proactive stances on illegal activity by reporting criminals and avoiding court intervention.

Example:

Finland courts ruled that an anonymous remailer, Penet, be forced to reveal the identity of a user suspected of the minor offense of copyright infringement to Finnish police. The user was allegedly posting copyrighted materials to newsgroups using the service.
http://www.penet.fi/injuncl.html