The anonymity issue got me wondering about a possible exception to the general rule that a libel cannot occur if the real name / identity of the target is unknown.

While that makes sense, in this ever-changing world non-sense can become sensible: I'll explain.

Assume that for years you have developed a strong following on social media which over time has proven very lucrative; assume further that your real identity is unknown, but your screen-name is widely recognized and respected; your blogs, videos and the like have been highly monetized and you are very successful because of it.

Along comes a fiend who using AI creates and posts images of you having sex with a corpse, strangling a Girl Scout, and burning a little kitten; assume AI creates running commentary using your voice, and that it all seems very, very real.

It goes viral: millions see it; the main stream media even picks up on it, publicizing the claims: the cash cow you worked so hard to create is reduced immediately to sub-prime hamburger.

I submit that given the above, the injured party would have a good argument for libel EVEN THOUGH their true name is not known.