Government lists have a sordid history in America. From Joseph McCarthy’s “list of communists” in the 1950s, to Richard Nixon’s “enemies list,” lists of political opponents have been used to damage reputations and ruin lives. While at one time these types of lists could be used only by the politically-powerful and well-connected, the internet has made it easy for anyone with a computer to compile an enemies list.
A recent and troubling example involves the online message board 4chan. A group of 4chan-using Trump supporters obtained the names of those who signed a petition on Refusefascism.org and highlighted it online for their members to see. The group has continued to add to the list, and 4chan users are now connecting names of the signatories to their social media accounts and participation in political groups, a potential prelude to doxing or other forms of harassment.
