Cyber Threats Against Well-Known Blogger

Mar. 29 - KGO (KGO) -- Internet bloggers are calling for a boycott tomorrow in reaction to cyber threats being made against an online writer. Bloggers everywhere are outraged and taking action to stop cyberbullying. Online harassment they say has gone too far after death threats and disturbing photos of a well-known blogger surfaced.

The internet is filled with bloggers, an estimated 26 million of them, with one new blog being created every second of every day. Political candidates, hobbyists and experts have all turned blogs into free speech forums to exchange ideas, but now there's a crackdown after a victim says that she was attacked unprovoked.

Robert Scoble has been blogging for seven years, but he's taking this week off in reaction to death threats against a fellow blogger.

Kathy Sierra writes a tech blog and often appears at conferences. Online attacks on her go beyond death threats. A photo showing her muzzled by an article of underwear really troubles her.

Kathy Sierra, Threatened Blogger: "It's horrifying. It was devastating and frightening and enough to make me quit doing something I love."

Fellow bloggers have declared tomorrow "Stop Cyberbullying Day." They will suspend their online journals, hoping to focus attention on the dark side of free speech.

Robert Scoble, Blogger: "It's good to stand back and say, where is the line? What is proper in our community? When should we speak up against this kind of attack?"

An estimated 40 to 50 percent of readers and writers of blogs are women, but the attacks have created a hostile environment for them.

Kathy Sierra: "This is a much deeper and complex problem I think than just random trolls who like to mouth off. The way it's starting to look right now is that there's more misogyny out there than I would have expected."

Scoble and others would like to see offensive language and photos removed from sites, not as a censorship crackdown, but as a way to foster trust among all posters.

John Furrier, founder and CEO of Podtech Network, says blogs serve an important purpose.

John Furrier, Podtech Network Founder & CEO: "There's been a lot of great value that the blogosphere has brought to users, and this is a step back in the short term in the sense there's an untrustful environment being perceived out there."

Kathy Sierra has reported the death threats to police. She has suspended writing her blog. She also cancelled a public appearance this week. She told me she's still getting hate messages.

While some bloggers take tomorrow off, intense debate has begun whether anonymous postings need to end, making everyone accountable for what they write, say or do.

MONEYScope Extra:

>> AUDIO INTERVIEW: Listen to David Louie's unedited interview with Kathy Sierra here.

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