Pros and cons of anonymity

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: "Paul Levy" <plevy () citizen org>
Date: August 31, 2008 8:34:53 PM EDT
To: <dave () farber net>, <ip () v2 listbox com>
Subject: Pros and cons of anonymity

I have to assume that this post was not cited as "proof" of a general  
proposition, but rather as a reminder that people who speak out  
against the rich and/or powerful can face retaliation.  Of course,  
once the dissident is seized by the police and brought into a vehicle  
to be taken to who know where, anonymity is does not prevent the  
physical consequences.  But had Magomed Yevloyev, the owner of the  
ingushetiya.ru site discussed in this article, conducted his website  
anonymously, he would perhaps not have been subject to being seized.   
Concern about such consequences -- or lesser but still significant  
economic or political consequences that American critics often face as  
a result of their  speech -- is an important reason why many speak  
anonymously, and why we need protections or anonymity.

As for Spafford's concern about false rumors posted for purposes of  
disruption, I think the answer is that most people take anonymous  
postings (or postings from pseudonymous authors who have not built up  
credibility based on past posts) with a grain of salt.  This does many  
anonymous or pseudonymous communications from making significant  
contributions to the marketplace of ideas.  Authorship -- or unknown  
authorship -- is simply one factor that most audiences take into  
account when deciding what credence to give.

Finally, Spafford goes to his conclusion "Heck, the secret
police might well plant fully-anonymous stories to justify acts
against dissenters! "  And what reason does he have to think that  
secret police feel they need such self-justification?

Paul Alan Levy
Public Citizen Litigation Group
1600 - 20th Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 588-1000
http://www.citizen.org/litigation
> > >


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