Anonymous

Anonymous is an international, decentralized collective of activists and hackers. The term refers to a loosely affiliated group of individuals who communicate and coordinate through online forums and use the moniker to mask individual identities. The group has no formal membership or leadership; participants join campaigns that align with their own aims. The mission statements vary, but common themes include defending freedom of expression, opposing censorship, and protesting against corruption and abuses of power.

Origins trace back to 2003 on the imageboard 4chan, where posters used "Anonymous" as a label for posts by unknown authors. The group adopted the Guy Fawkes mask as a symbol of anonymity and anti-authoritarianism, and began to stage high-profile online and offline actions.

Notable campaigns include Project Chanology against the Church of Scientology (2008–2009), Operation Payback (2010) targeting copyright organizations, and various campaigns against governments and corporations. Methods used include distributed denial-of-service attacks, data leaks, online protests, and information campaigns.

Impact and reception of Anonymous are varied. Some members have been arrested or face legal action in several countries, and critics argue that actions can disrupt services or harm innocent users. Supporters contend that the activities highlight issues of censorship, corruption, and government or corporate overreach, and that anonymous participation can empower individuals.

Today, Anonymous remains a loosely connected phenomenon rather than a formal organization, with campaigns that emerge spontaneously and with varying goals, often driven by online sentiment and real-world events.