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This week, representatives from Google, Facebook, and Twitter are appearing before House and Senate subcommittees to answer for their role in Russian manipulation during the 2016 election, and so far, the questioning has been brutal. Facebook has taken the bulk of the heat, being publicly called out by members of Congress for missing a wave of Russian activity until months after the election.
[...] The point is clear enough: if you're fighting Russian interference on social media, anonymity is a big problem. In some ways, it's the original sin, creating space for that first lie that lets trolls enter the conversation unnoticed. "Account anonymity in public provides some benefits to society, but social media companies must work immediately to confirm real humans operate accounts," Watts told the committee. "The negative effects of social bots far outweigh any benefits." It's a common insight among bot-hunters, and one that's become particularly popular amid this week's hearings.
[...] The problem is social. We're used to anonymity on the internet, particularly on the services where it's still available. It's hard to know what an anonymity backlash would mean for services like Twitter, Reddit, and 4chan — all of which are named in Watts' testimony as playing a role in Russian disinformation.
In the background, there's an even harder question: is anonymity still worth saving? It's foundational to many people's idea of the internet, but amid widespread online harassment and Facebook itself, it's come to mean less and less. Even without Russian influence campaigns, the web's online spaces are largely associated with the ugliest parts of humanity. (4chan is a prime example.) With new pressure from Congress, bot analysts, and the public, online anonymity may not have any defenders left. In the face of that, Twitter, Reddit, and others might decide a real name policy is a small price to pay for forestalling federal regulation.
Source: Russia's Social Media Meddling Could Spell the End of Online Anonymity
Previously: Russia Bans VPNs and Tor, Effective November 1
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday November 05 2017, @06:59AM (6 children)
Whether what they spread is full of lies or not, why does it matter? This country was founded upon freedom, and if people want to read erotic political fiction written by ruskies, why should I care? If those voters are swayed by such garbage so as to vote a certain way, how valuable was their vote to begin with? I'd rather us focus on our education system to create a well-informed and intelligent voting population instead. It's highly doubtful that our legislatures would be fond of that however.
More on topic:
The solution to speech you don't like is always confrontation, not the stifling of it. It doesn't matter how wide spread it is. The purpose of this nation's founding was freedom, and that includes the free exchange of ideas and facts. If lies are spread, counter them with facts. In the event that is not effective, an aggressive strike, through similar means, must take place against the offending country to create mutual understanding. If you believe in compromising on the core values of our nation in any way whatsoever, you don't believe in them period.
Anonymity is necessary to live in a free society. Just because our forebears didn't have the internet does not mean they didn't conceal their identities when needed. Whether it's been authors concealing their identities, people posting pamphlets at night, or even our founding fathers meeting in secrecy prior to american revolution, anonymity is a huge part of our history as a people. Removing anonymity from the internet, such a significant and large part of our lives in this modern age, is as evil and tyrannous as trying to prevent it anywhere else
If we're not allowed to conceal our identities when desired and able, what else will we not be allowed to conceal in the future? Should the activities in my house also be public domain? Will I soon have to scan my ID at stores so that my purchases can be tracked and recorded?
We've let our country be attacked and threatened for decades, with parties often using phones and the internet anonymously to communicate, and fucking Russia putting advertisements on facebook is supposed to be a good explanation for removing our liberties?
(Score: 4, Insightful) by maxwell demon on Sunday November 05 2017, @07:46AM (4 children)
That's called a credit card.
Currently you can use cash instead. But some people want to get rid of that.
The Tao of math: The numbers you can count are not the real numbers.
(Score: 2) by maxwell demon on Sunday November 05 2017, @07:49AM
Either I forgot to add the link for that claim, or I did it wrongly (reminder to self: don't forget to preview). Therefore here it is:
https://www.economist.com/blogs/economist-explains/2016/08/economist-explains-11 [economist.com]
The Tao of math: The numbers you can count are not the real numbers.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday November 05 2017, @08:15AM (1 child)
Fair point, but do you believe that to be a good thing?
(Score: 2) by maxwell demon on Sunday November 05 2017, @09:28AM
What, credit cards? Cash? Or the abolition of cash?
Well, I always pay in cash whenever possible. And I didn't actually get a credit card as long as practically possible. I think that answers your question.
The Tao of math: The numbers you can count are not the real numbers.
(Score: 2) by Anal Pumpernickel on Sunday November 05 2017, @08:50AM
Those people are idiots. Yes, let's completely remove the option for people to buy things anonymously, thereby greatly increasing the ability of governments and corporations to track your purchases! That's what we need: Even more mass surveillance. The article you linked to in your other comment trivializes anonymity and acts as if it is less important than stopping Bad Guys, and this is in the 'give me liberty or give me death' country. I will never understand people who simply have no principles whatsoever and would trade absolutely anything away for security or convenience.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday November 05 2017, @05:50PM
trump, motherfucker!