IP addresses wouldn't reveal all the info anyway. Several issues there. For example,

you would use different public IP addresses if posting from work and home. Almost all of us would have a different public IP every few days even from home as our service providers would typically have us using DHCP. Mobile changes even more dynamically as you move around, between networks etc. Add to that the bigger trolls who might even use VPNs or services like Hola if they care at all about being "exposed".

My theory is that you'd get a better match on email addresses. Yes it is possible to create free email accounts for each user name but it would be more work than just using Hola or something. I would guess quite a few of the trolls use the same email address for multiple usernames. I know I did ;)

By the way, I think Ben would only be able to release IP in combination with username. Releasing it in combination with email address combines too much information to get around the data protection act. Imagine that, as most will, you have at least your first name or your surname in your email address. Ping the IP to find at least the approximate location, a little bit of Googling or Facebook sleuthing will probably reveal a real human being in no time. Next thing you're getting phone calls at work from Giovanni di Stefano (referring to a previous incident when Megson's (I think) email address was revealed to a dubious prospective club investor).

Posted By: Steve in Holland, Dec 20, 11:56:26