Is internet anonymity causing social breakdown? Should we do anything about it?

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Anonymity was the gift that was going to give everyone a voice, free from the oversight of institutions and government control. Yet critics claim the dream has turned into a nightmare. For the anonymous world turns out to be one full of abuse, division and wild conspiracy. In addition, many contend that the dark side of the anonymous web has infected real world personal and public life undermining social cohesion, communication and wellbeing.

Is it essential that we end anonymity now if we are to arrest the growing tensions in our culture? Are the financial benefits of anonymity to the web giants so great, and the short term pleasures it offers so addictive, that this cannot be achieved? Are we as a result snared in a downward spiral from which there is no escape, or can we find a way to return to the original dream?

Stephen Kinsella is founder of Clean Up the Internet. He is a competition lawyer with a longstanding interest in human rights, digital technology, and democracy.

Victoria Baines is part of the organisation Demos. Her interests cover content moderation, digital labour, datafication and blockchain technologies.

Hugh Tomlinson is a barrister, famed for his role in the UK MP’s parliamentary expenses scandal and in the News of The World phone-hacking case.

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