Technology & Innovation — July 8, 2010

The End of Internet Anonymity?

The online game Blizzard now makes its users submit their real first and last names in order to post comments. True/Slant asks if this is the end of Internet anonymity.

bigthinkeditor

The online game Blizzard now makes its users submit their real first and last names in order to post comments. True/Slant asks if this is the end of Internet anonymity. “I have to be honest, my first, initial, unadulterated reaction to this news was glee. Why? For years now, I’ve been writing with my real name for the various media outlets I work for including this one, and in return for expressing my ideas…I’ve been endlessly flamed with personal insults from commenters hiding under the veil of a fake username and e-mail address. But it didn’t take me long to realize that was just a fantasy, and instead the idea of taking anonymity away from the internet would have very serious consequences for everyone.”

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