Irish Examiner view: Case against social media anonymity

Online hate

All the main social media platforms allow a measure of anonymity to be applied, should the user wish it.

There are occasions when anonymity makes a very useful contribution to the public weal.

Informers, for example. It is difficult to countenance that someone operating within an organised crime group can easily contact police and security forces and make allegations against associates without building prerequisite levels of trust and confidence. There are witness protection schemes in place for very good reasons and they often disguise not only the original sources of information but the future identities and locations of those who provide it.