By Jamie O’Malley
The rise of the internet and online spaces has revolutionized how we communicate, connecting people around the world, increasing access to information, and allowing people to build communities they may not otherwise find. In many ways the internet has been a driving force for good. However, the technological revolution has also allowed for the creation of new ways to perpetuate hatred and violence.
Anonymity is one of the primary features of the internet that has both allowed for positive change, and enabled new found methods of spreading hatred. Understanding digital anonymity is not so simple, as “anonymity” in this context can mean an array of things. On one hand we have partial anonymity, which can be as simple as using a different name or a screen name to identify yourself. On the other end of the spectrum we have total anonymity, which users can achieve by using platforms designed to protect their identity such as 4chan or Yik Yak, or by using more technical solutions such as VPNs to make themselves almost completely untraceable.
In many ways this anonymity has been good. It lets whistleblowers speak without retaliation, helps marginalized groups like LGBTQ+ people and women under oppressive rule express themselves and find community, and allows survivors or at-risk users to protect their identities from those who may wish to harm them. It can shield people from predators or scammers, limit the personal data available to third parties, and create space for conversations about sensitive, taboo, or even criminalized subjects.
Yet the same invisibility that works to protect at risk users, also works to protect those who wish to harm them.
For those seeking to spread hate, online anonymity offers two major draws. Firstly is the protection it offers from consequence or retribution. If users or law enforcement cannot track perpetrators, they cannot hold them accountable for their actions. Secondly, this absence of consequence can embolden people, prompting groups and individuals to act in ways they would not otherwise risk in their day to day lives.
These anonymous accounts can be used in a myriad of ways to target individuals. Some of the most common forms of online abuse include:
- Image-based abuse: revenge porn, non-consensual sharing of images, AI-generated deepfakes
- Cyberbullying, trolling, harassment, and online threats
- Spreading of hate speech and disinformation
- Doxxing: publishing private or identifying information
- Online stalking or surveillance
- Grooming and sexual exploitation
- Catfishing and impersonation
The ways in which abusers use these methods to harass their victims is varied, but in each case anonymity shields perpetrators from accountability.
For example, sexual predators often use false identities to lure and gain the trust of victims. This could look like creating a video game persona to speak with minors, creating a catfishing profile tailored to a target, or using these accounts to spread non-consensual explicit content. In cases of harassment and cyberbullying, victims can report accounts, but not the individuals behind them. This allows abusers to create new anonymous accounts and continue their attacks. The same issue appears in doxxing, online surveillance, and stalking. Online harassment can further escalate into real-world threats, yet with so little information on their abusers, victims have no real way of assessing their threat level. Additionally, the digital nature of these attacks complicates jurisdiction, leaving enforcement agencies uncertain about who is responsible, or even able, to pursue the perpetrators.
A number of real-world cases have brought discourse on online anonymity to the forefront. Particularly, where to draw the line in safeguarding people’s rights to anonymity while protecting those at risk of online abuse. An example of one such case occurred in 2016 when a video of a woman engaging in sexual acts was posted without her consent on the platform Tumblr. Her personal information was spread alongside the video, which ended up being shared over 1200 times. A New York state court ordered Tumblr to release identifying information on the users who had shared the video, allowing her to take legal action. While she was able to seek justice against these users, the case sparked backlash, with some claiming potential first amendment violations.
It is clear that there is no simple solution to the issue of online anonymity perpetuating abuse. Companies like Google have tested real name policies in the past, requiring users to use their legal names and deleting accounts of those using pseudonyms or nicknames. The intent was to create a network of real, verifiable users, yet the program was met with immediate backlash. Suddenly, large numbers of activists, queer people hiding their identities, and at-risk groups whose safety relied on their anonymity were out in the open without any protections. After a great deal of kickback, including mass user departures and petitions, Google finally apologized for and reversed the policy in 2014.
The answer, much like the issue itself, is complex and lies in a grey area with no clear single solution. As put by the ADL, “Online anonymity cannot be treated as an “all or nothing” feature of the internet; just as there are different degrees to which online services afford anonymity, there are also cases in which anonymity impedes freedom, security, and justice”. While multi-factor authentication, ID checks, and third-party verification are helpful, no single solution can fully tackle the complexity of online abuse. What is apparent is that stronger protections and identity related policies need to be enacted in digital spaces. Platforms and companies need to take into consideration how anonymity both serves and harms its users, and consider how platforms can be built with this issue in mind.
If you or someone you know experiences digital abuse or harassment it is important to collect evidence by taking screenshots or documenting the abuse and report the user to the platform. You can additionally find safety information on some of the most popular platforms here.
Sources:
Backgrounder: How Can Online Anonymity Affect Hate?
Google reverses ‘real names’ policy, apologizes
