The First Amendment Extends to Cyberspace

This article talks about a case pending in Madison County, IL for a newspaper protecting the identities of people who made comments on one the news articles on the paper's websites.  According to the article "prosecutors have not demonstrated how testimony from the anonymous commenters would enhance their case."  Lucky for these commenters Illinois has a shield law so the paper does not have to reveal their identities except in extreme circumstances.  Although prosecutors maintain that the commenters were not sources for the newspaper so I guess that means they shouldn't be protected under the shield law.  Still right to free speech is still protected and if these people are just going to be harassed by authorities for commenting about an article on murdered 5 year old then where's the free speech in that?   

http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/the-platform/editorial-writers-noteooks/2008/12/the-first-amendment-extends-into-cyberspace/