Introduction

This chapter introduces the notion of anonymity, which is deeply rooted in the constitutional values and social norms of the United States. It defines anonymity as the condition of avoiding identification which allowed minorities to express unpopular political viewpoints. Moreover, anonymity empowerment lets people control what details of their identity could be revealed. The chapter also highlights how the First Amendment protections created a culture of anonymity empowerment when combined with technology that prevents identities from being associated with online activities. The culture of anonymity empowerment became an essential component of American democracy as it protected citizens to communicate and receive information without fear of persecution. The chapter considers the call for an end to online anonymity due to the wide range of online harm. It explains that courts and lawmakers should provide balanced protections that simultaneously benefit anonymity and reduce the likelihood of dangerous anonymous behavior.