GamerGate and Privacy: The Intersection of Online and IRL

GamerGate, is a term used to describe a series of events in which female activists in the online gaming community have been credibly threatened by anonymous users. In addition to threats, the women involved had personal information, including their home addresses revealed publically on the internet. These actions have where carried out by anonymous members of online forums and the online gaming community which hold misogynistic and hateful views. These people, mostly men, are known as “trolls” and other names which describe internet users who spread hateful views and take hurtful, sometimes illegal action against other users whose views they oppose.

In an article for the Washington Post, Dewey presents the idea that these events are not just symptomatic of the changing face of the online gamine community, but are in fact a broader commentary on inclusion, equality and cultural diversity both online and IRL. Dewey’s commentary also brings up the role of personal information in internet activism. Activists who use the internet to spread their message are often forced to use their real identities in order to gain a following or be featured in mainstream content. This leaves them at risk of being DOXXED, or having their personal information posted online.

One of the major tactics of the groups targeting the women involved in GamerGate was to disclose their personal addresses and other personal information online. These methods are not unique to GamerGate, and raise the question of whether or not these actions are ever acceptable.

The internet is rife with social and political activism. May of the responses to such activism are often rude, hateful, or in rare cases, criminal in nature. This type of discourse is exacerbated by the widespread use of anonymous or pseudonymic accounts utilized by internet users.          

Anyone who posts information about themselves online runs the risk of having their personal information compromised, this risk quickly compounds when users take controversial positions on salient issues. I admire those who stand up for what they believe in, even in the face of the risks associated with doing so. I do not condone the release of personal information or harassment online in any capacity, simply because there is no way to know the consequences of such actions, or if the information is correct/credible etc.

This issue is problematic because many of the systemic characteristics of the internet which make it possible for people to express their views, make it difficult to control or punish abusive users. It seems that short of having every user verify their identity in order to participate in online discussion, only enhanced surveillance and tracking is sufficient to find and punish abusive or criminal users.

Until the measures above can be ethically and safely implemented, it will be up to the community (as so often occurs on the internet) to create an environment in which safe and productive dialogue can take place on controversial issues. 

Nothing to Hide

 The issue of online privacy is an increasingly salient concern in a world which is shifting more and more of its critical functions onto the internet. The tracking of internet users by governments, private companies and other users is cause for major concern. When queried about online privacy, many internet users will state that they, “have nothing to hide” and are largely unconcerned about civil liberties in the digital world.

This view, is problematic for many users, even those who truly do not have any nefarious or embarrassing internet traffic associated with their online identities. Online privacy is important for all internet users for a variety of reasons. The most prominent of which include the potential to match users to their personal information, freedom from unlawful surveillance, the security of personal information, freedom from interference by government agencies and private firms and the control of personal data. Free access to every portion of the internet is also at stake in the struggle between privacy and security online. 

Posting a picture of friends out on the town is viewed by most users as an innocuous act; however, this seemingly harmless action could have far reaching consequences if online privacy is not protected. Third parties could use the location information provided to match credit card information obtained from the location of the people in the photo. The people in the photo may be profiled, targeted by advertisements or placed on watch lists, if the photo was take at a place deemed suspicious by government agencies.  

The examples listed above may be extreme, but they illustrate some of the potential risks associated with failing to regulate access to user’s information on the internet. I think that online privacy is an issue which must be scrutinized and acted upon.

Regulating the internet is challenging for many reasons; however, I feel that through international bodies and with the cooperation of key firms tangible progress which protects the best interests of users is possible. I think that an “Internet Bill of Rights”, which outlines the basic rights and responsibilities of users would be an excellent way to thwart many of the lingering issues associated with internet use, including privacy. There are huge obstacles to this type of action, but I feel that eventually, such initiative must be undertaken to secure the internet as a safe, productive and profitable space.   

Networked Life

This blog will be used to respond to topics presented in Computer Science 408, a course at the University of New Hampshire. The posts will related to the challenges, opportunities and issues of life in the digital age. Data, privacy, ethics, and access are just a few of the topics which will be addressed.

I hope that this discussion will allow my classmates and I to view our daily online existence through a critical lens by engaging course materials, personal experiences and other thought provoking content.