Week 3-Preparation for first draft

1) My argument 
I want to argue that anonymity should be granted to internet users. Increase in crimes committed through cyberspace, as well as the government's incapability to monitor all domains on the Web, has caused several organizations to call for all internet users to reveal some of their information and their names. The idea caught on with some lawmakers, and this matter has brought upon a huge debate. Should this law be legislated, all activities that are done through internet, such as commenting on an online post, will require our social security numbers and our real names.  

2) How I found my argument 
The first question that came into my mind was 'does standard constitutions and human rights that are guarnateed in our society also apply in cyberspace?' Such question sparked my curiosity on the treatment internet users are receiving, as well as the sort of protections and regulations that are in place to allow the users to browse the internet in a safe manner. I thus began research into cases in which infringements of basic rights that are prevalent in cyberspace, and also looked for solutions that can help internet users browse the web with their rights still protected. One of the cases that caught my attention was the matter of privacy on the internet. As the majority of the members of the society are aware of, the members are shielded from unwanted attention and protected from the disclosure of their identities. However, on the internet, such measures are not yet securely implemented, and the users are still exposed in cyberspace, stripped naked down to every details, available to all those who wish to get their hands on these personal information for private uses. I also found about a legislation that was once in place in Korea, that could actually increase crimes related to stealing others' personal information. I then thought anonymity on internet can be a prime issue to be dealt with in my research, so as to find out more about the following legislation and analyze it further.

3) New research questions 
I have several questions that need to be resolved.
a) Why did the legislation have to be implemented?
b) What were some effects, both positive and negative, that followed the legislation?
c) Were there any shortcomings of not allowing anonymity on the internet?
I'll browse the internet and look for events that took place after the implementation of the law, and research more on what caused the legislation to be cancelled in the end. In addition, I will look for any details that seem to be relevant to the topic above and consider them for the final draft.

4) Connections to the Harvard Sampler 
This argument has many connections to the Harvard Sampler. Firstly, the argument has much to do with the second unit of the material, 'The Internet and Hieronymus Bosch: Fear, Protection, and Liberty in Cyberspace.' Anonymity in cyberspace is the key factor that plays a part in ensuring people protection and liberty. With their identities hidden from other users who, making use of the internet's nature, have easy access to any disclosed private information, people feel safe and can browse the web to its full extent without being intimidated by the dangers if the internet. Thus, allowing users to hide themselves will affect their attitudes toward the internet, proving again that the argument topic is related to the following chapter in the book.