This is the Kader Daily podcast for Friday, February 24th, 2023.

I'm Caleb Brown.

Anonymous speech can have enormous value, but many in government want to ban speech platforms from not collecting your

personal information.

Jeff Kosseth is author of the United States of Anonymous how the First Amendment shaped

online speech.

We spoke last week about online speech and the risks

created when governments compel firms to compel you to identify yourself.

America has a long history of anonymous speech and important anonymous speech,

extremely valuable anonymous speech, speech that is taught in college

classrooms that was at the time anonymous.

Why do you think we're in a situation right now where so many people at least in Congress

want to take away anonymity for people on the internet.

Well, I think there are a few reasons.

First is just that there is a misunderstanding of what it means to be anonymous.

Anonymity is often associated with nefarious activity.

And while that is true, there is some nefarious activity that happens anonymously.

There also is some nefarious activity that happens when people use their real names and faces.

So I think there's maybe a bit of confusion on that end.

And then the other issue is this very strong concern about children on the internet and being

harmed which it is very valid And there's an idea now that the solution is to prohibit children

or prohibit children under 16 or 18 from using social media. or every user so you can ensure what age that they are.

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