Editing Pseudonym (section)

====Online activity====
Individuals using a computer [[online]] may adopt or be required to use a form of pseudonym known as a "handle" (a term deriving from [[CB slang]]), "[[User (computing)|user]] name", "[[Logging (computer security)|login]] name", "[[Avatar (virtual reality)|avatar]]", or, sometimes, "[[Screen name (computing)|screen name]]", "[[gamertag]]", "IGN ('''I'''n '''G'''ame ('''N'''ick)'''N'''ame)" or "[[nickname]]". On the Internet, [[pseudonymous remailer]]s use [[cryptography]] that achieves persistent pseudonymity, so that two-way communication can be achieved, and reputations can be established, without linking physical [[identity theft|identities]] to their respective pseudonyms. [[Aliasing (computing)|Aliasing]] is the use of multiple names for the same data location.

More sophisticated cryptographic systems, such as anonymous [[digital credential]]s, enable users to communicate pseudonymously (''i.e.'', by identifying themselves by means of pseudonyms). In well-defined abuse cases, a designated authority may be able to revoke the pseudonyms and reveal the individuals' real identity.{{Citation needed|date=June 2013}}

Use of pseudonyms is common among professional [[eSports]] players, despite the fact that many professional games are played on [[LAN]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ongamers.com/articles/why-esports-needs-to-ditch-online-aliases/1100-205/ |title=Why esports needs to ditch online aliases |first=Taylor |last=Cocke |work=onGamers |date=26 November 2013 |access-date=14 May 2015 |archive-date=18 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518101553/http://www.ongamers.com/articles/why-esports-needs-to-ditch-online-aliases/1100-205/  }}</ref>

Pseudonymity has become an important phenomenon on the Internet and other computer networks. In computer networks, pseudonyms possess varying degrees of anonymity,<ref>{{cite journal |last=Froomkin |first=A. Michael |author-link=Michael Froomkin |date=1995 |url=http://www.wm.edu/law/publications/jol/95_96/froomkin.html |title=Anonymity and Its Enemies |volume=1 |journal=Journal of Online Law |at=art. 4 |ssrn=2715621 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080525021152/http://www.wm.edu/law/publications/jol/95_96/froomkin.html |archive-date=25 May 2008 }}</ref> ranging from highly linkable ''public pseudonyms'' (the link between the pseudonym and a human being is publicly known or easy to discover), potentially linkable ''non-public pseudonyms'' (the link is known to system operators but is not publicly disclosed), and ''unlinkable pseudonyms'' (the link is not known to system operators and cannot be determined).<ref>Pfitzmann, A., and M. Köhntopp (2000).  "[http://dud.inf.tu-dresden.de/literatur/Anon_Terminology_v0.23.pdf Anonymity, Unobservability, and Pseudonymity: A Proposal for Terminology] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110709035024/http://dud.inf.tu-dresden.de/literatur/Anon_Terminology_v0.23.pdf |date=9 July 2011 }}". In H. Federrath (ed.), ''Anonymity'' (Berlin: Springer-Verlag), pp. 1-9.</ref> For example, true [[anonymous remailer]] enables Internet users to establish unlinkable pseudonyms; those that employ non-public pseudonyms (such as the now-defunct [[Penet remailer]]) are called [[pseudonymous remailer]]s.

The continuum of unlinkability can also be seen, in part, on Wikipedia. Some registered users make no attempt to disguise their real identities (for example, by placing their real name on their user page). The pseudonym of unregistered users is their [[IP address]], which can, in many cases, easily be linked to them. Other registered users prefer to remain anonymous, and do not disclose identifying information. However, in certain cases, {{srlink|Wikipedia:Privacy Policy|Wikipedia's privacy policy}} permits system administrators to consult the server logs to determine the IP address, and perhaps the true name, of a registered user. It is possible, in theory, to create an unlinkable Wikipedia pseudonym by using an [[Open proxy]], a Web server that disguises the user's IP address. But most open proxy addresses are blocked indefinitely due to their frequent use by vandals.  Additionally, Wikipedia's public record of a user's interest areas, writing style, and argumentative positions may still establish an identifiable pattern.<ref>Rao, J.R., and P. Rohatgi (2000). [http://www.freehaven.net/anonbib/cache/rao-pseudonymity.pdf "Can Pseudonyms Really Guarantee Privacy?"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121071211/https://www.freehaven.net/anonbib/cache/rao-pseudonymity.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041106171132/http://freehaven.net/anonbib/cache/rao-pseudonymity.pdf |archive-date=2004-11-06 |url-status=live |date=21 January 2021 }} Proceedings of the 9th USENIX Security Symposium (Denver, Colorado, 14–17 Aug. 2000).</ref><ref name="Novak Raghavan Tomkins 2004 pp. 30–39">{{cite conference |last1=Novak |first1=Jasmine |last2=Raghavan |first2=Prabhakar |last3=Tomkins |first3=Andrew |title=Proceedings of the 13th conference on World Wide Web - WWW '04 |chapter=Anti-aliasing on the web |publisher=ACM Press |publication-place=New York, New York, USA |date=May 2004 |isbn=978-1-58113-844-3 |doi=10.1145/988672.988678 |pages=30–39 |oclc=327018361 |conference=WWW '04: Proceedings of the 13th international conference on World Wide Web}}</ref>

System operators ([[sysops]]) at sites offering pseudonymity, such as Wikipedia, are not likely to build unlinkability into their systems, as this would render them unable to obtain  information about abusive users quickly enough to stop vandalism and other undesirable behaviors. Law enforcement personnel, fearing an avalanche of illegal behavior, are equally unenthusiastic.<ref>Clarke, Roger (1998). [http://www.anu.edu.au/people/Roger.Clarke/II/ICrimPrev.html "Technological Aspects of Internet Crime Prevention."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080814085625/http://www.anu.edu.au/people/Roger.Clarke/II/ICrimPrev.html |date=14 August 2008 }}  Paper presented at the Australian Institute for Criminology's Conference on Internet Crime ( 16–17 February 1998).</ref> Still, some users and privacy activists like the [[American Civil Liberties Union]] believe that Internet users deserve stronger pseudonymity so that they can protect themselves against identity theft, illegal government surveillance, stalking, and other unwelcome consequences of Internet use (including [[Internet leak|unintentional disclosures of their personal information]] and [[doxing]], as discussed in the next section). Their views are supported by laws in some nations (such as Canada) that guarantee citizens a right to speak using a pseudonym.<ref>{{Cite web|date=20 April 2001|title=EFF Press Release: Federal Court Upholds Online Anonymous Speech in 2TheMart.com case|url=https://www.eff.org/legal/cases/2TheMart_case/20010420_eff_2themart_pr.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061211074611/https://www.eff.org/legal/cases/2TheMart_case/20010420_eff_2themart_pr.html|archive-date=11 December 2006|access-date=1 July 2020}}</ref> This right does not, however, give citizens the right to demand publication of pseudonymous speech on equipment they do not own.