No More Hiding on the 'Net

Free speech nuts and Internet libertarians don't always like my opinions. For one, I don't think the Internet should be a free-for-all of filth, and there should be a way adults can prove their age to see the crazy stuff and block it for 10-year-olds. Nor do I believe in pure online anonymity. One should not be able to harass, commit crimes or hack -- and then hide behind a cloak of Internet invisibility.

Microsoft researchers apparently agree and want to help us all track down hackers by finding out who they are and what host servers they use.

I do worry about what governments could do with these techniques. Not just Iran and North Korea, but even "free" countries like the good, old US of A which could abuse our personal rights. Should we give up our anonymity to expose hackers and other creeps? Tell me what you think, anonymous or otherwise, at dbarney@redmondmag.com.

Posted by Doug Barney on August 21, 2009 at 11:53 AM