In the years since President Donald Trump was elected, the number of anonymous opinion pieces, sources and leaks rose dramatically compared to previous administrations. Notably, the New York Times published a rare and scathing anonymous Op-Ed essay entitled “I Am Part of the Resistance Inside the Trump Administration.”

For his part, President Trump in December 2019 retweeted a post that included the full name of the anonymous whistleblower whose complaint led to his impeachment by the House of Representatives. The world needs anonymity, because it enables whistleblowers to come forward and shields those who otherwise might be persecuted for their beliefs.

Digital anonymity allows us to discreetly band together in times of need, whether that’s to raise money for a good cause or to push back against injustices. But promoting and preserving anonymity will prove challenging as our digital publishing systems grow more complex and decentralized.