Internet Essay - Online Anonymity and Cyberspace Crime -- Exploratory

Online Anonymity and Cyberspace Crime The 90's internet boom gave rise to new ways of writing in through access to cyberspace. What used to be printed or handwritten on physical surfaces such as paper, cardboard, or bulletin boards has changed to 0's and 1's, bits and bytes of digitized information that can be displayed thru the projections of computer screens. Moreover, the internet has made the process of publishing one's works, writing letters, or chatting with one another much easier and convenient for everyone around the globe. The internet became a universal tool, giving much freedom and flexibility to the users; it gave them opportunity to deliver their thoughts with little or no restrictions. Since it's impossible to regulate all cyber-activities, internet users are often unrestricted by the normal laws or authorities that would set boundaries around the various online transactions. More importantly, the fact that a net user can take on different identities in cyberspace brings about several ethical and social is sues. These anonymous and unrestrictive characteristics of cyberspace often permite abusive users to easily involve themselves in serious cybercrimes such as cyberstalking, cyber-rape, and cyber-harassment through chatting services, emails, cyber communities, and other online communication. In the real world, most encounters in everyone's daily lives are anonymous ones. Chatting with a person beside you in a cafà © or talking to an assistant while shopping for a pair of pants- these are interactions between two unknown persons; however, these contacts do not affect our lives the way some of the anonymous interactions in the cyberspace does so. Chat rooms, net forums, and even the spam mails most people get u... ...sity. 10 Apr. 2004 . Diener, E., Fraser, S.C., Beaman, A. L. & Kelem, R. T. (1976). Effects of deindividuating variables on stealing by Halloween trick-or-treaters. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 33:178- 183. Haley, Jacqueline. "Anonymity of Cyberstalkers: The Cyber-Watchdog's Tough Collar." Georgia State University College of Law May 2001. Kabay, M. E. "Anonymity and Pseudonymity in Cyberspace: Deindividuation, Incivility and Lawlessness Versus Freedom and Privacy." Conference of European Institute for Computer Anti-virus Research 8 Mar. 1998. Post, David G. "Knock Knock Who's There?" Information Week Megazine Dec. 1995. Rowland, Diane. "Anonymity, Privacy, and Cyberspace." 15th BILETA conference 14 Apr. 2000. Springer, Claudia. Electronic Eros: Bodies and Desire in the Postindustrial Age. Texas: University of Texas Press, 1996. Internet Essay - Online Anonymity and Cyberspace Crime -- Exploratory Online Anonymity and Cyberspace Crime The 90's internet boom gave rise to new ways of writing in through access to cyberspace. What used to be printed or handwritten on physical surfaces such as paper, cardboard, or bulletin boards has changed to 0's and 1's, bits and bytes of digitized information that can be displayed thru the projections of computer screens. Moreover, the internet has made the process of publishing one's works, writing letters, or chatting with one another much easier and convenient for everyone around the globe. The internet became a universal tool, giving much freedom and flexibility to the users; it gave them opportunity to deliver their thoughts with little or no restrictions. Since it's impossible to regulate all cyber-activities, internet users are often unrestricted by the normal laws or authorities that would set boundaries around the various online transactions. More importantly, the fact that a net user can take on different identities in cyberspace brings about several ethical and social is sues. These anonymous and unrestrictive characteristics of cyberspace often permite abusive users to easily involve themselves in serious cybercrimes such as cyberstalking, cyber-rape, and cyber-harassment through chatting services, emails, cyber communities, and other online communication. In the real world, most encounters in everyone's daily lives are anonymous ones. Chatting with a person beside you in a cafà © or talking to an assistant while shopping for a pair of pants- these are interactions between two unknown persons; however, these contacts do not affect our lives the way some of the anonymous interactions in the cyberspace does so. Chat rooms, net forums, and even the spam mails most people get u... ...sity. 10 Apr. 2004 . Diener, E., Fraser, S.C., Beaman, A. L. & Kelem, R. T. (1976). Effects of deindividuating variables on stealing by Halloween trick-or-treaters. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 33:178- 183. Haley, Jacqueline. "Anonymity of Cyberstalkers: The Cyber-Watchdog's Tough Collar." Georgia State University College of Law May 2001. Kabay, M. E. "Anonymity and Pseudonymity in Cyberspace: Deindividuation, Incivility and Lawlessness Versus Freedom and Privacy." Conference of European Institute for Computer Anti-virus Research 8 Mar. 1998. Post, David G. "Knock Knock Who's There?" Information Week Megazine Dec. 1995. Rowland, Diane. "Anonymity, Privacy, and Cyberspace." 15th BILETA conference 14 Apr. 2000. Springer, Claudia. Electronic Eros: Bodies and Desire in the Postindustrial Age. Texas: University of Texas Press, 1996.