Within hours, the claims by a single anonymous user on the microblogging site swept the internet, with the account attracting more than 60,000 followers.

In this way, a particular anonymous user can be uniquely identified from session to session without the need for registration or authentication.

Last week, they promised to hand over details of anonymous users to police.

Draft legislation passing through parliament would make it illegal for messaging services to have anonymous users.

The site has long been the target of criticism from businesses that argue they have no right of reply and anonymous users can destroy their reputation.