By Liz Puranam
ACT MP Heather Roy has been accused of writing comments of support from false identities on her own blog.
Blogger Cameron 'Whaleoil' Slater says many encouraging comments on Ms Roy's blog come from her own internet address, and when he pointed that out, the addresses were taken down.
Many of the comments were from the same two IP addresses as her home and office.
3 News asked Ms Roy if she wrote them herself.
"That's not true," says Ms Roy. "I share a home with six other people and some of them feel strongly about particular issues.
So they were making these comments then?
"I can't say who was making them, but it wasn't me."
On Ms Roy's blog, 'Jim' writes: "I suspect you are one of the best informed MPs on what it is like for the ordinary Joe Christchurch as a result of your visit. That's leadership too. Well done."
And 'Gadfly' writes: "Your lest we forget segment this week is very good."
Both are from the same IP address as Ms Roy's home, while other comments are from the same address as her office.
"Sure, you can try to explain it away and say that could be a shared IP and whatever," says Mr Slater, "but they were router IP addresses, and in terms of the Telecom or Jetstream account, they are usually unique to a particular address."
Ms Roy denies this.
"No, I don't think that can be proven. The Jetstream numbers are remarkably inaccurate."
3 News pointed out to Ms Roy that each IP address is unique to a customer.
"Well, that's not what I'm told," says Ms Roy.
So we asked Mr Roy why the IP addresses were taken down once Mr Slater blogged about them.
"Oh, look, I can't explain," says Ms Roy. "All I can say is that I share a house with six other people. I've got a husband and five children and I haven't been sitting on my blog writing good comments about myself."
But the IP addresses did come down, so does at leastacknowledge that it doesn't look good?
"Look, I've answered all your questions," says Ms Roy. "No, I don't acknowledge anything. I'm not answering any more questions."
Politicians using blogs and social media to connect with their constituents is becomingly increasingly popular, but it's hardly a genuine conversation when the comments on them are from their own home or office, and Mr Slater says Ms Roy is an example of someone who does not understand technology or its traceability.
It looks as though Ms Roy has just learned about it the hard way.
3 News
source: newshub archive
