Quote Quoting RizzleHizzle
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How is this or is this not extortion?
Because in general the crime of extortion involves using physical force, the threat of physical force, or some other illegal act or the threat to use some illegal act in order to obtain money or property from the victim. Both elements must be met. There was no physical force or any other form of illegal act by CNN nor the threat to do any of those things involved here, so the first element fails and CNN was not attempting to obtain money or property from the troll, thus the second element fails too.

Quote Quoting RizzleHizzle
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Could this also be a tort?
No. In general torts involve a breach (either intentionally or by negligence) of a duty owed to the plaintiff or engaging in some legally recognized wrongful behavior that causes some legally recognized harm to the plaintiff. CNN owes no duty to withhold publicizing the name in the first place and it is free to offer the person the opportunity to keep his name from being revealed if he refrains from certain actions. There is nothing wrongful about any of that. Moreover, the troll has suffered no damages from it.

Frankly, I don't understand the outrage at CNN here. If it were me, I would say go ahead and publish the name. The only way to stop trolls is to ensure they’ll be revealed. People are much less likely to post offending stuff if they know they’ll be held accountable for what they say.