Ideas worth spreading

The case for anonymity online

1,818,256 views |

Christopher "moot" Poole |

TED2010

• February 2010

The founder of 4chan, a controversial, uncensored online imageboard, describes its subculture, some of the Internet "memes" it has launched, and the incident in which its users managed a very public, precision hack of a mainstream media website. The talk raises questions about the power -- and price -- of anonymity.

The founder of 4chan, a controversial, uncensored online imageboard, describes its subculture, some of the Internet "memes" it has launched, and the incident in which its users managed a very public, precision hack of a mainstream media website. The talk raises questions about the power -- and price -- of anonymity.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

About the speaker

Christopher "moot" Poole

Christopher "moot" Poole

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Christopher "moot" Poole is founder of 4chan, an online imageboard whose anonymous denizens have spawned the web's most bewildering -- and influential -- subculture.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.