In The USA of Nameless, Jeff Kosseff explores how the appropriate to anonymity has formed American values, politics, enterprise, safety, and discourse, notably as know-how has enabled folks to separate their identities from their communications.
Authorized and political debates surrounding on-line privateness typically give attention to the Fourth Modification’s safety towards unreasonable searches and seizures, overlooking the historical past and way forward for an equally highly effective privateness proper: the First Modification’s safety of anonymity. The USA of Nameless options in depth and fascinating interviews with folks concerned within the highest profile anonymity instances, in addition to with those that have benefited from, and been harmed by, nameless communications. By these interviews, Kosseff explores how courts have protected anonymity for many years and, likewise, how legislation and know-how have allowed people to manage how a lot, if any, figuring out data is related to their communications. From blocking legal guidelines that forestall Ku Klux Klan members from sporting masks to restraining Alabama officers from forcing the NAACP to reveal its membership lists, and to refusing corporations’ requests to unmask on-line critics, courts have acknowledged that anonymity is an important a part of our free speech protections.
The USA of Nameless weighs the tradeoffs between the appropriate to cover identification and the harms of anonymity, concluding that we should preserve a robust, if not absolute, proper to nameless speech.
“From the world’s main professional on Part 230, a brand new e book with a balanced and insightful have a look at on-line anonymity—the great and the dangerous—that’s required studying for anybody who needs to substantively have interaction on this debate.”
— Jimmy Wales, founding father of Wikipedia
“An indispensable, in-depth have a look at each the historical past and current of anonymity protections in American life, media, and on-line tradition. The USA of Nameless could have resounding implications for the way forward for democracy.”
— Craig Newmark, founding father of craigslist
“Offering each an amazing story and eager authorized evaluation, Jeff Kosseff examines what fuels our dedication to defending nameless speech in america—and the brand new and typically excessive prices of that unwavering allegiance.”
— Victoria Smith Ekstrand, creator of Scorching Information within the Age of Massive Information
“Jeff Kosseff weaves collectively historical past, authorized points, and public affairs on this important, well timed, and extremely readable e book. The USA of Nameless ought to be required studying for all engaged within the debate over anonymity, identification, and privateness within the on-line age.”
— Jeff Jarvis, creator of What Would Google Do?
“Jeff Kosseff has, as soon as once more, noticed the subsequent looming matter in know-how legislation, nameless communication, illuminating its contours together with his trademark talent. The USA of Nameless is a foundational dive into one of many hardest areas of speech, privateness, and identification at this time.”
— Kate Klonick, St. John’s College College of Regulation
“An outstanding e book, accessibly written, that canvasses the historical past of nameless speech and its interplay with the legislation. Jeff Kosseff has created a serious framework for any future discussions of anonymity.”
— Anupam Chander, creator of The Digital Silk Street
I a lot sit up for Prof. Kosseff’s posts.