anonymity and the Internet

Anonymity, or the ability to communicate without disclosing a verifiable identity, is a consequence of the way most Internet-based e-mail, chat, or news services were designed (see e-mail, chat, texting and instant messaging, and netneWs and neWgRoups). This does not mean that messages do not have names attached. Rather, the names can be arbitrarily chosen or pseudonymous, whether reflecting development of an online persona or the desire to avoid having to take responsibility for unwanted communications (see spam).

advantages

If a person uses a fixed Internet address (see tcp/ip), it may be possible to eventually discover the person’s location and even identity. However, messages can be sent through anonymous remailing services where the originating address is removed. Web browsing can also be done “at arm’s length” through a proxy server. Such means of anonymity can arguably serve important values, such as allowing persons living under repressive governments (or who belong to minority groups) to express themselves more freely precisely because they cannot be identified. However, such techniques require some sophistication on the part of the user. With ordinary users using their service provider accounts directly, governments (notably China) have simply demanded that the user’s identity be turned over when a crime is alleged.

   Pseudonymity (the ability to choose names separate from one’s primary identity) in such venues as chat rooms or online games can also allow people to experiment with different identities or roles, perhaps getting a taste of how members of a different gender or ethnic group are perceived (see identity in the online WoRld)

   Anonymity can also help protect privacy, especially in commercial transactions. For example, purchasing something with cash normally requires no disclosure of the purchaser’s identity, address, or other personal information. Various systems can use secure encryption to create a cash 

equivalent in the online world that assures the merchant of valid payment without disclosing unnecessary information about the purchaser (see digital cash). There are also facilities that allow for essentially anonymous Web browsing, preventing the aggregation or tracking of information (see cookies).

ProbLems

The principal problem with anonymity is that it can allow the user to engage in socially undesirable or even criminal activity with less fear of being held accountable. The combination of anonymity (or the use of a pseudonym) and the lack of physical presence seems to embolden some people to engage in insult or “flaming,” where they might be inhibited in an ordinary social setting. A few services (notably The WELL) insist that the real identity of all participants be available even if postings use a pseudonym.

   Spam or deceptive e-mail (see phishing and spoofing) takes advantage both of anonymity (making it hard for authorities to trace) and pseudonymity (the ability to disguise the site by mimicking a legitimate business). Anonymity makes downloading or sharing files easier (see file-shaRing and p2p netWoRks), but also makes it harder for owners of videos, music, or other content to pursue copyright violations. Because of the prevalence of fraud and other criminal activity on the Internet, there have been calls to restrict the ability of online users to remain anonymous, and some nations such as South Korea have enacted legislation to that effect. However, civil libertarians and privacy advocates believe that the impact on freedom and privacy outweighs any benefits for security and law enforcement.

   The database of Web-site registrants (called Whois) provides contact information intended to ensure that someone will be responsible for a given site and be willing to cooperate to fix technical or administrative problems. At present, Whois information is publicly available. However, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is considering making the contact information available only to persons who can show a legitimate need.