Anonymity on the internet versus identification of offenders

Abstract

More and more people choose to act anonymously on the Internet. This fact generates many benefits, for example, it encourages the expression of critical opinions. On the other hand, there is also a “dark side” to this phenomenon. Specifically, perpetrators can opt to commit crimes on the Internet anonymously. This article argues that anonymity on the Internet should not be an obstacle to finding out the truth and, respectively, to the administration of justice. So, Internet privacy must yield when the imperative of identifying offenders and reparations to victims is at stake. However, this must be done with safeguards in mind, not arbitrarily.