Anonymity on the Internet
Web sites, such as anonymizer.com, and software, such as TOR, provide tools and services that enable a person to send emails, surf the Web, post blogs and chat anonymously. These tools have been criticized for helping criminals and terrorists to conduct illegal business without fear of being caught. While this is true, these tools are also heavily used by law enforcement and the military to catch criminals and terrorists. They have been especially useful in catching sexual predators that target minors on social networking sites (Facebook, mySpace, Twitter, etc.).
The tools are also used by:
- Businesses to safe guard the transmission of trade secrets.
- Victims of crime, such as rape, to engage in online support groups anonymously.
- People with alternate, but legal, lifestyles to communicate safely.
- People with medical conditions that carry a stigma, such as AIDS or certain mental disorders to engage in online support groups anonymously.
These are just a few of the legal activities that benefit form anonymity on the Internet. Do you feel that the benefits of these sites and tools outweigh the problems? Why or why not?
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