Takeaways for Week No. 4

• Anonymity online can act as a shield, or a weapon based on how it is utilized:
• A fake username can offer privacy to user who might not want their real identity linked to their online persona. It can also offer protection from real-world backlash or judgement based on what a person might discuss online and therefore encourages free speech. 
• On the other hand, users can also use anonymity to avoid accountability. Without the connection of a real name, people are more likely to bully and spread misinformation. Sites that allow anonymous posting, such as 4chan, often host content that is shocking, false, and even dangerous. 
• The anonymous messaging apps Yolo and LMK where taken down after 16-year-old Carson Bride committed suicide after being the victim of bullying and his mother filed a lawsuit.
• Section 230 protects websites from being sued over content posted by a third party. They aren't legally responsible for verifying that everything posted is true, but should they be? Some questions to ask are: What role should the government have in content moderation? Is content moderation a violation of the right to free speech? Would a real name policy reduce the need for content moderation?
• Anonymity can also used in court. Generally, plaintiffs must sue under their real name because the court is a public system and the defendant has a right to know who is suing them. There have been  certain exceptions though, such as when the plaintiff is a minor, a victim of sexual assault, or when they are challenging the constitutionality of a law. In these cases they can sue using initials or the name Jane or John Doe.