CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The murky world of online bloggers, hackers and anonymous postings is in the spotlight after an Internet posting claiming to expose politicians with purported links to the Ku Klux Klan.
"That's something any politician does not want to be tied to," said political expert Michael Bitzer.
He was talking about a list posted online with the provocative title "Political Figures Involved With The KKK."
It appeared online this week and was initially thought to be connected to the well-known hacking activist group Anonymous.
But Anonymous, which had promised to out KKK members later this week disavowed any connect to the list, which includes the names of five mayors from around the country and four United States senators, including Republican Sen. Thom Tillis, of North Carolina.
Questions about the accuracy of the information surfaced almost immediately, especially since no one is sure where the information came from or who is behind the posting.
With the incendiary allegations circulating on the Internet anyway Bitzer said it puts those named in a tough position.
"The Internet has created the Wild West and anybody can put up anything they want," Bitzer said.
The result has been a flurry of denials from mayors in Knoxville, Norfolk, Fort Wayne, Indiana and Lexington, Kentucky, whose mayor calls the allegations "false, insulting and ridiculous."
The Tillis’ office categorically denied any connection to the KKK but declined other comment.
Bitzer said the anonymous nature of such postings create a no-win situation for politicians.
"It's certainly tough to put the genie back in the bottle, because it's already out there and now the politicians have to respond to it,” Bitzer said. “The question is how much validity do they give it by responding."
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