The Internet can also be a place where persons can hide their identities. You can communicate anonymously. The Internet users can actually become their pseudonyms. Individuals may stand up and voice their thoughts and opinions no matter how controversial they might be. Anonymity and pseudonyms are a way to protect privacy. Anonymous speech shields the person who wishes to remain a private party, but allows them to speak against what may be the majority. The following two cases are good examples of people practicing anonymous speech.
Aqualcool_2000 v. Yahoo! Inc. is a case currently being heard in court. Aquacool_2000 was participating in an online chat room. He was voicing his displeasure about a public company. The company subpoenaed Yahoo for the anonymous user’s real name. Yahoo voluntarily gave the anonymous user’s name without due process. This case considers many legal issues including Aquacool_2000’s belief that his right to privacy has been violated. For further details, review the case.
Under the 1st Amendment, the Supreme Court in McIntyre v. Ohio Elections Commission, 414 U.S. 334 (1995) ruled that anonymity “is not a pernicious fraudulent practice, but an honorable tradition of advocacy and of dissent. Anonymity is a shield from the tyranny of the majority.” The Court pointed out that the U.S. has a long tradition of protecting the right to communicate anonymously, beginning with the Federalist Papers in the late 1700s. This Supreme Court decision upheld the right to distribute anonymous political leaflets.