Anonymity

In the virtual realm, anonymity means that such bedrock
values of librarianship as privacy, free speech, and intellectual freedom
coexist uneasily with the proliferation of fake news, sexist and racist
sentiments, and repugnant ideologies. As trusted guardians of knowledge,
libraries and librarians can fill a growing need for reputable information and
open dialogue.


Macrina, founder and director of the Library Freedom Project
and a core contributor to the Tor Project, along with co-author Cooper of The
Intercept, discuss apps (Whisper, Secret) and forums (Reddit) that promote
anonymity as a central feature, even as so-called true anonymity remains
elusive because of pervasive user data tracking. They also examine how
anonymous content has become valuable fodder for both news organizations and
clickbait websites.


Will the rise of anonymity and the vulnerabilities it
exposes, especially for governments and businesses, lead to a movement against
it? Or have our society and its technology passed the point of no return?
Bringing issues and viewpoints from outside the profession into the
conversation, this book will encourage libraries to think about anonymity and
what it means for the future of our institutions.