Anonymous post
Encyclopedia
An anonymous post is an entry on a bulletin board system
, Internet forum
or message board, blog
, or other discussion forum without a screen name
or more commonly by using a non-identifiable pseudonym
.
Some online forums do not allow such posts, requiring users to be registered. Some may allow anonymous posts, but discourage those known as "anonymous cowards" (a term coined by Slashdot
). Others like JuicyCampus
, AutoAdmit
, 2channel
and other Futaba
-based image boards (such as 4chan
) thrive on the anonymity. Users of 4chan, in particular, interact in an anonymous and ephemeral environment that facilitates high creativity and rapid generation of new memes.
es. For example, WikiScanner
associates anonymous Wikipedia edits with the IP address that made the change and tries to identify the entity that owns the IP address. On other websites IP address may not be publicly available, but they can be obtained from the website controllers.
Identifying the author of an anonymous post may require a Doe subpoena
. First, the IP address of the poster will be obtained from the hosting website. Through a second request, courts then order an ISP to identify the subscriber to whom it had assigned said IP address. Requests for such data are almost always fruitful, though providers often will effect a finite term of data retention (in accordance with the privacy policy
of each—local law may specify a minimum and/or maximum term).
Yet there are also services that aim at making it impossible to trace back a user activity to a specific ip number - such a service is called an Anonymizer
. Examples of anonymizers include I2P
and Tor
.
, and various other laws
. These laws restrict the ability of the government and civil litigants to obtain the identity of anonymous speakers. The First Amendment says that "Congress shall make no law . . . abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press." This protection has been interpreted by the Supreme Court to protect the right to speak anonymously offline. In McIntyre v. Ohio Elections Commission, the Supreme Court overturned an Ohio law banning the distribution of anonymous election pamphlets. The Court said, "[a]n author’s decision to remain anonymous . . . is an aspect of the freedom of speech protected by the First Amendment." The Court found that "anonymous pamphleteering is not a pernicious, fraudulent practice, but an honorable tradition of advocacy and of dissent. Anonymity is a shield from the tyranny of the majority." Various courts have interpreted these offline protections to extend to the online world.
allows anonymous editing in most cases, but does not label users, instead identifying them by their IP address
es, with other editors commonly referring to them with neutral terms such as "anons" or "IPs". Slashdot permits the practice and employs the label.
Many online bulletin boards require users to be signed in to write (and in some cases, even to read) posts. 2channel
and other Futaba
-based image boards take an opposite stance, encouraging the anonymity, and in the case of English Futaba-based websites, calling those who use usernames and tripcode
s "namefags" and "tripfags," respectively.
Slashdot
discourages anonymous posting by referring to anonymous posters as "anonymous coward". The mildly derogatory term is meant to chide anonymous contributors into logging in.
Bulletin board system
A Bulletin Board System, or BBS, is a computer system running software that allows users to connect and log in to the system using a terminal program. Once logged in, a user can perform functions such as uploading and downloading software and data, reading news and bulletins, and exchanging...
, Internet forum
Internet forum
An Internet forum, or message board, is an online discussion site where people can hold conversations in the form of posted messages. They differ from chat rooms in that messages are at least temporarily archived...
or message board, blog
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
, or other discussion forum without a screen name
User (computing)
A user is an agent, either a human agent or software agent, who uses a computer or network service. A user often has a user account and is identified by a username , screen name , nickname , or handle, which is derived from the identical Citizen's Band radio term.Users are...
or more commonly by using a non-identifiable pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
.
Some online forums do not allow such posts, requiring users to be registered. Some may allow anonymous posts, but discourage those known as "anonymous cowards" (a term coined by Slashdot
Slashdot
Slashdot is a technology-related news website owned by Geeknet, Inc. The site, which bills itself as "News for Nerds. Stuff that Matters", features user-submitted and ‑evaluated current affairs news stories about science- and technology-related topics. Each story has a comments section...
). Others like JuicyCampus
JuicyCampus
JuicyCampus.com was a website focusing on gossip, rumors, and rants related to colleges and universities in the United States. As of February 5, 2009, it is out of business, and its website now redirects to ....
, AutoAdmit
AutoAdmit
AutoAdmit, also known as Xoxohth, is a network of websites for prospective and current college, graduate, law students, and lawyers most notorious for its largely unmoderated message board. Its law school message board is now the only active section...
, 2channel
2channel
is a Japanese textboard. In 2007 there were 2.5 million posts made every day. Launched in 1999, it has gained significant influence in Japanese society, comparable to that of traditional mass media such as television, radio, and magazines. As of 2008, the site generates revenue upwards of ¥100...
and other Futaba
Futaba Channel
, or Futaba for short, is an internet forum in Japan. It is a popular Japanese imageboard dealing in otaku and underground culture.-Origin:Futaba Channel was set up on August 30, 2001, as a refuge for 2channel users when 2channel was in danger of shutting down...
-based image boards (such as 4chan
4chan
4chan is an English-language imageboard website. Launched on October 1, 2003, its boards were originally used for the posting of pictures and discussion of manga and anime...
) thrive on the anonymity. Users of 4chan, in particular, interact in an anonymous and ephemeral environment that facilitates high creativity and rapid generation of new memes.
IP addresses
Anonymity on the Internet is limited by IP addressIP address
An Internet Protocol address is a numerical label assigned to each device participating in a computer network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication. An IP address serves two principal functions: host or network interface identification and location addressing...
es. For example, WikiScanner
WikiScanner
WikiScanner was a tool which consisted of a publicly searchable database that linked millions of anonymous edits on the free online encyclopedia Wikipedia to the organizations where those edits apparently originated, by cross-referencing the edits with data on the owners of the associated block of...
associates anonymous Wikipedia edits with the IP address that made the change and tries to identify the entity that owns the IP address. On other websites IP address may not be publicly available, but they can be obtained from the website controllers.
Identifying the author of an anonymous post may require a Doe subpoena
Doe subpoena
A Doe subpoena is a subpoena that seeks the identity of an unknown defendant to a lawsuit. Most jurisdictions permit a plaintiff who does not yet know a defendant's identity to file suit against John Doe and then use the tools of the discovery process to seek the defendant's true name...
. First, the IP address of the poster will be obtained from the hosting website. Through a second request, courts then order an ISP to identify the subscriber to whom it had assigned said IP address. Requests for such data are almost always fruitful, though providers often will effect a finite term of data retention (in accordance with the privacy policy
Privacy policy
Privacy policy is a statement or a legal document that discloses some or all of the ways a party gathers, uses, discloses and manages a customer or client's data...
of each—local law may specify a minimum and/or maximum term).
Yet there are also services that aim at making it impossible to trace back a user activity to a specific ip number - such a service is called an Anonymizer
Anonymizer
An anonymizer or an anonymous proxy is a tool that attempts to make activity on the Internet untraceable.It is a proxy server computer that acts as an intermediary and privacy shield between a client computer and the rest of the Internet...
. Examples of anonymizers include I2P
I2P
I2P is a mixed-license, free and open source project building an anonymous network .The network is a simple layer that applications can use to anonymously and securely send...
and Tor
Tor (anonymity network)
Tor is a system intended to enable online anonymity. Tor client software routes Internet traffic through a worldwide volunteer network of servers in order to conceal a user's location or usage from someone conducting network surveillance or traffic analysis...
.
Legal protections
The right to speak anonymously online is protected, in the United States, by the First AmendmentFirst Amendment to the United States Constitution
The First Amendment to the United States Constitution is part of the Bill of Rights. The amendment prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering...
, and various other laws
Electronic Communications Privacy Act
The Electronic Communications Privacy Act is a United States law.- Overview :The “electronic communication” means any transfer of signs, signals, writing, images, sounds, data, or intelligence of any nature transmitted in whole or in part by a wire, radio, electromagnetic, photoelectronic or...
. These laws restrict the ability of the government and civil litigants to obtain the identity of anonymous speakers. The First Amendment says that "Congress shall make no law . . . abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press." This protection has been interpreted by the Supreme Court to protect the right to speak anonymously offline. In McIntyre v. Ohio Elections Commission, the Supreme Court overturned an Ohio law banning the distribution of anonymous election pamphlets. The Court said, "[a]n author’s decision to remain anonymous . . . is an aspect of the freedom of speech protected by the First Amendment." The Court found that "anonymous pamphleteering is not a pernicious, fraudulent practice, but an honorable tradition of advocacy and of dissent. Anonymity is a shield from the tyranny of the majority." Various courts have interpreted these offline protections to extend to the online world.
Acceptability of anonymous posting within communities
Online communities vary with their stances on anonymous postings. WikipediaWikipedia
Wikipedia is a free, web-based, collaborative, multilingual encyclopedia project supported by the non-profit Wikimedia Foundation. Its 20 million articles have been written collaboratively by volunteers around the world. Almost all of its articles can be edited by anyone with access to the site,...
allows anonymous editing in most cases, but does not label users, instead identifying them by their IP address
IP address
An Internet Protocol address is a numerical label assigned to each device participating in a computer network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication. An IP address serves two principal functions: host or network interface identification and location addressing...
es, with other editors commonly referring to them with neutral terms such as "anons" or "IPs". Slashdot permits the practice and employs the label.
Many online bulletin boards require users to be signed in to write (and in some cases, even to read) posts. 2channel
2channel
is a Japanese textboard. In 2007 there were 2.5 million posts made every day. Launched in 1999, it has gained significant influence in Japanese society, comparable to that of traditional mass media such as television, radio, and magazines. As of 2008, the site generates revenue upwards of ¥100...
and other Futaba
Futaba Channel
, or Futaba for short, is an internet forum in Japan. It is a popular Japanese imageboard dealing in otaku and underground culture.-Origin:Futaba Channel was set up on August 30, 2001, as a refuge for 2channel users when 2channel was in danger of shutting down...
-based image boards take an opposite stance, encouraging the anonymity, and in the case of English Futaba-based websites, calling those who use usernames and tripcode
Tripcode
A tripcode is a means of telecommunication authentication that does not require registration. Tripcodes are most often used in 2channel-style message boards or Futaba Channel-style imageboards...
s "namefags" and "tripfags," respectively.
Slashdot
Slashdot
Slashdot is a technology-related news website owned by Geeknet, Inc. The site, which bills itself as "News for Nerds. Stuff that Matters", features user-submitted and ‑evaluated current affairs news stories about science- and technology-related topics. Each story has a comments section...
discourages anonymous posting by referring to anonymous posters as "anonymous coward". The mildly derogatory term is meant to chide anonymous contributors into logging in.