Anonymity on the Internet

[deathofcheese]

Anons. Anonymous. You've heard of them. Likely, you've also heard them described as terrorists. In particular, people who abuse anonymity on the Internet in order to make lulz, hide from authority, or cause general or targeted mayhem.

Anonymity is considered a hallmark of the Internet as well as one of its worst curses. On the one hand, it promotes stepping outside of your shell and doing things you wouldn't normally do where all you risk is discovering something new you might like and some amusing embarrassment that is largely kept to yourself. It also affords a sense of protection in doing dangerous or unsavory things where anonymity is an additional level of security for yourself, your family or your friends, who might have nothing to do with your activity. Unfortunately, it can also promote shameless and wanton behavior, such as trolling, phishing, vandalism and even stalking. It's this shady behavior that has inspired some groups to call for an end to the anonymity of the Internet. To establish and enforce accountability by connecting your online doings with your name, your life.

Is this an attack on free speech? Are victims well within their rights to demand an end to the anonymity so that a face may be put with their tormentors in order to wreak justice? Can the Internet survive without anonymity? Is the end of anonymity a slippery slope for control of the Internet? Can there be a compromise?

[chefTENGU]

Frankly, it seems to me that for everyone who abuses internet anonymity, there's another who does stupid shit without proper thought given to their own privacy and the consequences such actions might entail for them.

Considering we've seen the starts of abuses such as prospective employers (and even some current employers) using sites like facebook to influence their decisions on who to hire or who to fire.

It just doesn't seem like an all-or-nothing thing to me; the answer lies in how to carefully balance both so people get the protection they need with the privacy they deserve.

But hell if I know where that balance is.

[Seegtease]

Somewhere deep inside, I kind of wish that the internet were just another means of communication. We talk to people in person, we call them on the phone - neither are anonymous.

People are paranoid about strangers online. But have they ever thought about how many strangers we run into in our daily lives? I help dozens of strangers every day (I say dozens because most are regulars). One goes to a new school and they're bombarded with stranger. Unless family, everyone we've ever met was a stranger at one point. There's no inherent danger in speaking with strangers as mature adults.

Sure, people say "but you can't see their face, you don't know." But in real life, plenty of people who are the worst kinds to be around may appear pretty harmless at first glance, so I don't really hold that argument in high regard.

I understand the dangers, but those dangers exist almost as badly outside the internet. You could meet someone at school, tell them your name, and then they just need to look you up when they get home, and know all about your family. In fact, it's easier for them, since they know where you live and what school you attend.

In short, I think the reduced number of people who abuse anonymity would far outweigh the amount of people who could abuse knowing who you are, since people in real life can do that anyway. It would make the internet, especially in the gaming realm, a much more pleasant experience.

[dinowoman]

I pretty much agree with chef on this subject.

Although I am well aware that there are a few people who abuse internet anonymity, I don't see it as a major problem if people are sensible about who is allowed to see what data.

I personally would be rather disappointed if anonymity were to be abolished altogether. I'm far more comfortable expressing my opinions online than I am IRL (especially in matters relating to my faith, where the internet is the only place where I feel able to say what I actually think rather than what the church expects me to think) precisely because it is more anonymous: if someone objects to something I say, I'm not going to deal with that while living, working or meeting with them. I'm sure if anyone I know IRL put their mind to it, they wouldn't find it too hard to trace me, but it's unlikely that anyone would take the trouble to try to trace me to a screen name on a forum.

I also like the fact that as things stand now, I can show my friendship and trust towards someone I like by specifically deciding to grant them access to my details, and likewise, if someone else chooses to let me in on their personal info, it makes me feel good because it indicates they trust me.