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posted by mrpg on Sunday November 05 2017, @04:29AM   Printer-friendly
from the I-refrain-from-commenting dept.

Submitted via IRC for takyon

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


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  • (Score: 1) by khallow on Sunday November 05 2017, @11:01AM (7 children)

    by khallow (3766) Subscriber Badge on Sunday November 05 2017, @11:01AM (#592463) Journal

    So this is the rub: You may think your opinions are the right ones, and good on your for that, but, prove it? Give us the reasons that you have that make you think your opinions are true.

    If you practiced what you preach here, you wouldn't be on my "foes" list. Be what you claim you want to be.

  • (Score: 4, Touché) by aristarchus on Sunday November 05 2017, @12:15PM

    by aristarchus (2645) on Sunday November 05 2017, @12:15PM (#592481) Journal

    Tu Quoque, Mon amici!

  • (Score: 2) by Azuma Hazuki on Sunday November 05 2017, @03:31PM (3 children)

    by Azuma Hazuki (5086) on Sunday November 05 2017, @03:31PM (#592531) Journal

    Nixon had an enemies list too, ya soggy bagel =P

    --
    I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
    • (Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday November 05 2017, @05:36PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Sunday November 05 2017, @05:36PM (#592581)

      I think he is Nixon...

    • (Score: 1) by khallow on Monday November 06 2017, @03:53PM (1 child)

      by khallow (3766) Subscriber Badge on Monday November 06 2017, @03:53PM (#593117) Journal
      I didn't choose the name, that comes from Slash code. I use it as a filter to hide posts from the two people I have on the list, edIII and aristarchus (both consistently terrible posters even by the low standards of trolling on SN). I can still choose to read and respond to their posts, but it makes for better flow not having their shit automatically appear on the screen while I'm browsing.
      • (Score: 3, Informative) by Azuma Hazuki on Monday November 06 2017, @08:23PM

        by Azuma Hazuki (5086) on Monday November 06 2017, @08:23PM (#593286) Journal

        You do yourself a grave disservice. I've found Ed3 to be right more often than not, and aristarchus is usually hilarious (though some of his stuff--notably, when he tries to talk like YOU) misses the mark.

        --
        I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
  • (Score: 2, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday November 05 2017, @05:27PM (1 child)

    by Anonymous Coward on Sunday November 05 2017, @05:27PM (#592577)

    Can't speak for Aristarchus, but being on YOUR enemy list would be a GOOD thing for me. Hell, might be enough to get laid!

    • (Score: 1) by khallow on Sunday November 05 2017, @09:07PM

      by khallow (3766) Subscriber Badge on Sunday November 05 2017, @09:07PM (#592651) Journal

      Can't speak for Aristarchus, but being on YOUR enemy list would be a GOOD thing for me. Hell, might be enough to get laid!

      Well, get an account so we can get you sorted out.