The fight for anonymity
Many people don't understand Anonymous. They don't understand that there are people out there, past and present, who have dedicated a significant part of their life building up an infrastructure and idea so that people can take the name and use the resources to fight for a better world. They don't understand that there are strong connections and friendships that get built through these pseudonymous channels and that many individuals take on real risk when they supported various political causes around the world through the banner of Anonymous. Owen was one such core contributor who fervently believed in the idea and egalitarian ethic behind Anonymous and who also worked on building and maintaining the IRC infrastructure so that others could join in and be part of something larger than themselves, so that they could be part of a collective who fights for the right to be obscure. This right embodies a series of defiant, principled refusals; a refusal to allow the state to track its citizens; a refusal to allow corporations to convert personal communications into profit or manipulate their personal desires; a refusal to capitalize off each other’s labor and, especially risks; a refusal, in essence, to prevent a powerful idea—that we are and can be anonymous—from withering away. Before Owne left his body he has done his part to ensure that a powerful idea will remain here with us for at least a while longer. Thank you Owen.