An Anonymous Social Network: Brilliance or Bollocks?

The first reaction for most is that an Anonymous social network is perhaps the epitome of oxymorons. How can you have a social network when all the participants are anonymous? The answer seems to be, quite easily. If you consider that our given names and physical identity are of no importance in comparison to our ideas and aspirations, and that they are often used as the tools to identify us in order to oppress our ideas and aspirations, it becomes reasonable to consider removing them from the equation so that ideas and aspirations may flourish unabated.

Even amongst those involved in Anonymous, reactions range from agreement, to ambivalence, to downright annoyance with the idea. Each opinion has its own foundation, worth and credibility. There isn’t a wrong answer to this, per se. A healthy and dynamic ‘group’ is meant to have such a varied range of responses. In this article I will represent only mine, of course, and that is one of measured optimism. As a realist, familiar with many of the forces aligned against Anonymous, and aware of the productive yet difficult-to-work-with dynamics within such a ‘group’, I see the potential barriers. As an activist, I revel at the potential success of the network.

There is always some contention when the name ‘Anonymous’ is attached to any project. While it might be accurately descriptive, it is often misleading if it is assumed as attribution to the on-line activist network known as Anonymous. In this case, the social network idea seems to be originated by PressStorm, a project associated, but not synonymous, with Anonymous. In an attempt to clear up any confusion in this matter, the social network project has decided on the name AnonPlus.

Explaining events leading up to the idea for an anonymous social network, the following statement was released.

As some of you know we got banned from Google+ due to some of our content. What we didn’t know at the time is that we were just one of a handfull of Anonymous accounts that was silenced. This is the sad fact of what happens across the internet when you walk to a different beat of the drum. We’ve all heard the stories of activists being banned from FaceBook, Twitter, YouTube, and governments blocking their people from these sites as well through organized black outs. That day has came to an end. Not only did a few people organized an Operation ageist(sic) Google+, but we have started to build our own Social Network.

This is one social network that will not tolerate being shut down, censored, or oppressed – even in the face of blackout. We the people have had enough…enough of governments and corporations saying what’s best for us – what’s safe for our minds.

The sheep era is over. The interwebz are no longer your prison.

Welcome to Anon+

Rather than develop a closed steering committee, or exclusive team of organizers, the M.O. of Anonymous allows for the development of the social network platform to be opened up to the hive. The beauty of contention, and the glory of chaos, have been unleashed on an idea that will find its form in the furnace of anarchist deliberation. The fledgling home page for the project is little more than an invitation to join in the discussion and development of this new tool for activists. An original label of version :0.1 Alpha is now, only days later, version :0.8 Alpha. These numbers refer to the birth of an idea, an aspiration, unhindered by preconceived notions and open to a potential without predetermined limits.

The AnonPlus home page states:

“Anonplus was meant to twart government censorship – so that in the case of a government blackout – the people can still be heard. The people are so far estranged from their world governments that they do not have a voice – even outside of revolution – therefore, they need an amplification tool without having to fear censorhip from both the government AND the social network/media that they are choosing to use. This social network will also incorporate and facilitate an open source educational environment allowing those who want, to further their knowledge of things that are righted to them at birth without having to feed the machine thousands upon thousands of dollars to do so. This social network will allow open communication of ideas -and is essentially a cyber-anarchy formatted environment whereas the people are the ones keeping the peace in order via an “understanding,” rather than a “force” or “threat.” They will be able to achieve knowledge on how to defend themselves against those who would stand to oppose them in the chance that their liberty and freedom be threatened. This social network would allow open exchange of currency via alternative currency without feeding the grid – and those corporations that wish to strangle the average citizen’s wages without a conscience. The people would generate their own currency and wage via alternative energy means such as wind, solar, and geothermal energy – and then any excess can be used for gain using a barter/trade system via the social network anonplus without fear of being penalized like ebay or other similar networks do. This social network is essentially: The activists dashboard. “

The goals may seem lofty, and rightly so. The advent of a network safe from government and corporate monitoring, censorship, and exploitation is a wonderfully lofty goal. A network that will function regardless of government ‘kill switches’, ‘black-outs’, and service interruptions- implemented either directly by governments, or through complicit corporations- does more than just provide another tool, it redefines Internet freedom as a reality rather than simply a theoretical aspiration.

The existence of such a network would provide access to individuals and organizations unfamiliar with IRC and provide them with a familiar interface for them to become engaged in a meaningful way. The potential to create a ‘larger tent’ for Anonymous, and Anonymous supporters, could result in an exponential growth in both their ability to communicate with, as well as gain active support from, a much larger pool.

Once we get past the admittedly silly sounding contradiction of an ‘anonymous social network,’ and the apparent oxymoron that may lead one to believe that the entire idea is bollocks, it is easy to imagine the potential that such a powerful and liberating tool might provide to activists and organizers around the globe. Although still in its infancy, and in need of much nurturing and guidance, the potential for brilliance is difficult to exaggerate. That being said, the only way to ensure that this project results in brilliance, rather than bollocks, is to get involved.

Visit PressStorm Here

Join the development discussion at -> irc.mibbit.com #anonplus