Congasm, seen here in a video he published online, obscures his true identity and is subject of a Californian defamation lawsuit.

A Kiwi internet troll accused of abusing vegans may have his true identity exposed in a Californian lawsuit.

It may be the first time online comments posted in New Zealand have helped spark a defamation court battle in the United States.

American and vegan publisher Jeff Nelson, is suing the Kiwi, known online as Congasm​, and numerous other online pseudonyms for $40,000 in damages.

SUPPLIED Vegan publisher Jeff Nelson, pictured here with his 91-year-old mother, is pursuing a Kiwi troll through US courts.

An April appellate court decision, seen by Stuff, ruled in favour of an order that would force Youtube, Twitter, Google and Tumblr​ to reveal the trolls' identities – including Congasm​.

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Netsafe chief executive Martin Cocker said this was the first time he's heard of a New Zealander caught up in court proceeding in the US for online abuse.

SUPPLIED Californian vegan publisher Jeff Nelson is pursuing internet trolls, including a New Zealander, through United States courts over defamatory statements and online abuse. Nelson is pictured here with his daughters Nina, Randa, son Willie and wife Sabrina.

"This sort of complex case is exactly the reason why New Zealand created the Harmful Digital Communications Act – to create a regime that could solve these cases without a complicated legal process."

The Harmful Digital Communications Act can be used to prosecute internet trolls in cases where intent to harm is evidenced, and serious emotional distress has been caused.

"If you say something online, then you're responsible for it. If you use a pseudonym or an anonymous profile, you're still responsible for it ... And could face the consequences of what you've produced," Cocker said.

YOUTUBE The accused Kiwi internet troll Congasm has in a video issued a trolling campaign against a vegan chef in the United States, and has been caught up in a lawsuit across the Atlantic.

A police spokeswoman would not confirm if any complaints had been received.

Nelson, 60, took the trolls to court in 2017, naming at least four online pseudonyms understood to be run by the New Zealander.

Congasm, who can be seen drinking and smoking in the rambling Youtube videos he publishes, is part of a gang of trolls (people who post inflammatory and aggressive statements online) which have targeted vegans since at least 2016.

SUPPLIED Threats of gun violence at a conference held by vegan publisher Jeff Nelson are subject of a lawsuit, which has also captured a New Zealand youtuber.

He has taken care to hide his true identity, and has not responded to multiple requests for comment.

Videos show he has a New Zealand accent and drinks NZ Pure beer. A trail of similar usernames leads to a Twitter account following mostly Auckland companies, journalists, and politicians.

"It wasn't even that bad, it was literal, just a joke," Congasm said in a video response to the lawsuit.

SUPPLIED Leonard Smiley, a Florida-based vegan chef, says he's been subject to a campaign of abuse from a gang of online trolls directed by a New Zealander.

Nelson's business, VegSource, has over 100,000 subscribers on Youtube, and for two decades he has espoused veganism through videos, articles, and conferences he holds.

Nelson began receiving violent threats in 2016, including an online video claiming there would be gun violence at a conference he was holding.

"It wasn't just a few dozen videos with a bunch of nonsense attacks, it was a campaign, a blizzard of harassment and stalking that was hard to ignore," Nelson told Stuff.

Congasm is being pursued in the courts for posts claiming Nelson is behind his own abuse.

Congasm has also been accused of ordering a "trolling hit" against Florida-based vegan chef Leonard Smiley in a 2016 video.

Smiley showed Stuff a Youtube video of Congasm announcing a campaign of online abuse – which he continues to receive.

"They were just choosing vegans, and they chose me."

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