While in the modern day many people equate anonymity with hiding in the shadows, we often fail to value its importance. With social media casting a spotlight on our intimate lives it feels as if we have relinquished privacy for convenience. However, there is a growing movement to reclaim our anonymity both on and offline which feels like a must needed step. Today I intend to cover some of the ways anonymity and its accompanying technology has helped change the world.
“We need a public self to navigate the social world of family, friends, peers and co-workers, But we also need a private self – an internal space where we can reflect on our own thoughts and feelings apart from outside influence, where we can just be with our own psyche.” John Suler
Tor and the dark web
Services like tor have received a lot of negative press in the last few years with many equating the dark web with, well the dark side. However, this is failing to comprehend some of the amazing things it has done for those in developing and authoritarian nations. While those in the west take freedom of speech and free internet access for granted in many places this is simply not the case. Providing anonymity to those suffering under these regimes is a must to allow personal liberty. The state has been given more tools than ever for surveillance and while in many nations this is a definite plus in many it is not. Giving citizens the ability to circumnavigate freedom of speech violations is a responsibility of those seeking to make the world a better place.
Blockchain
Another revolutionary software development in the anonymous space is Blockchain. Again while many of its uses have received mixed approval in the press and financial sector the underlying technology may change the way we store data and manage finance.
Blockchain is a recorded transaction ledger that allows secure and anonymous transactions and storage. While the main use case so far has been financial the ability to democratise currency and detach monetary exchanges from governments may have some extraordinary outcomes. Similar to Tor the advantages of the software rely heavily on the particular country your in. While in developed economies it may be useful for central banks to control currency in many places it isn’t. An example of this could be found in Argentina when citizens had savings taken by the government. This would have been next to impossible if its economy had utilised blockchain technology.
Communications
Under the guise of the war on terror and other initiatives are ability to communicate anonymously has been severely hampered. This has allowed governments to read and interpret the data of its citizens at whim. Unsurprisingly this can have shocking consequences in places without the right to free speech. Anonymous technology has allowed those from around the world to communicate with no need to fear government intervention. As with most anonymous technology the ability to use it for bad is apparent. However, the positive effects of this technology are far reaching and may potentially change the lives of many.
While anonymous technology has its ups and downs the right for individuals to communicate and pursue their daily lives without outside interference is necessary for any liberal society. It may be too soon to speak about the side effects and successes of either three technologies but I suggest that the goods shall outweigh the bad in the long run. To find out how we are seeking to push the cause of anonymous technology and help with mental health issues around the world explore our website by clicking the link below.