8chan

For other uses, see 8chan (disambiguation).
8chan

The ∞chan logo of 8ch.net
Web address 8ch.net
Slogan Welcome to ∞chan, the infinitely expanding imageboard.
Commercial? Yes
Type of site
 Imageboard
Registration None available
Available in English, Japanese (users can create language specific boards)
Owner Fredrick Brennan
Launched October 22, 2013
Alexa rank
 positive decrease 7,159 (April 2015)[1]
Current status Online

8chan (also called Infinitechan and stylized as ∞chan) is an English-language imageboard website composed of user-created boards. Each board is moderated by its creator with minimal interaction from other site administration.[2]

The site has received both praise and criticism for its stance on free speech, which involves allowing any content to be posted, so long as it adheres to United States law.

Several site's boards have played an active role in the Gamergate controversy, encouraging Gamergate affiliates to frequent 8chan after the topic was banned on the unaffiliated imageboard 4chan. As of January 2015, the site was the 8,389th most visited site in the world,[1] and in November 2014 was receiving an average of 35,000 unique visitors per day and 400,000 posts per week.[3]

History

8chan was created in October 2013 by computer programmer Fredrick Brennan,[3] also known by the nickname "Hotwheels".[4] The website was created after Brennan observed what he perceived to be rapidly escalating surveillance and a loss of free speech on the internet.[3] Brennan, who considers the imageboard 4chan to have grown into authoritarianism, describes 8chan as a "free-speech-friendly" alternative,[3] and had originally conceptualized the site while experiencing a psychedelic mushrooms trip.[4][5]

No experience or programming knowledge is necessary for users to create their own boards.[2] Since as early as March 2014, its FAQ has stated only one rule that is to be globally enforced: "Do not post, request, or link to any content illegal in the United States of America. Do not create boards with the sole purpose of posting or spreading such content."[2] Brennan has claimed that, while he finds some of the content posted by users to be "reprehensible," he feels personally obligated to uphold the site's integrity by tolerating discussion he doesn't necessarily support regardless of his moral stance.[3]

Brennan agreed to partner 8chan with the Japanese message board 2channel[4] and subsequently relocated to the Philippines in October 2014.[6]

In January 2015, the site changed its domain 8chan.co to 8ch.net after multiple people filed reports complaining to 8chan’s registrar that the message board hosted child pornography. Despite regaining the domain, the site remained at 8ch.net, with the old domain redirecting to it.[5]

Media attention

The Washington Post described it as "the more-lawless, more-libertarian, more 'free' follow-up to 4chan."[5] Boards have been created to discuss controversial topics, including pedophilia. Although the sharing of child pornography is notionally against site rules, The Daily Dot has reported that several boards exist to share sexualized images of barely clothed minors in provocative poses, and users swap links to explicit child pornography.[3] When asked whether such boards were an inevitable result of free speech, Brennan responded, "Unfortunately, yes. I don’t support the content on the boards you mentioned, but it is simply the cost of free speech and being the only active site to not impose more 'laws' than those that were passed in Washington, D.C."[3]

On September 18, 2014, the website gained prominence in the GamerGate controversy after 4chan banned discussion of GamerGate,[3][6][7] whereupon 8chan became a major hub of Gamergate activity.[3][6][8][9] "/gg/", 8chan's initial Gamergate-oriented board, also gained attention after being compromised by members of the internet troll group Gay Nigger Association of America, forcing Gamergate activists to migrate to "/gamergate/". This replacement quickly became the site's second most populous board.[8]

In January 2015 the site was used as a base for swatting exploits in Portland, Seattle, and Burnaby, British Columbia, most of them tied to the victims' criticism of Gamergate and 8chan's association with it;[10] the attacks were coordinated on a board on the website called "/baphomet/".[9] One of the victims of a swatting attack said she was singled out because she followed someone on Twitter.[11][12][13] On February 9, 2015, contents on the "/baphomet/" subboard were wiped after personal information of Katherine Forrest, the presiding judge in the Silk Road case, had been posted there.[14]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "8ch.net Site Info". Alexa Internet. Retrieved April 30, 2015.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Brennan, Fredrick. "FAQ". 8chan.co. Infinitechan. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 Howell O'Neill, Patrick (November 17, 2014). "8chan, the central hive of Gamergate, is also an active pedophile network". The Daily Dot.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Caldwell, Don (October 9, 2014). "Q&A with Fredrick Brennan of 8chan". Know Your Meme. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Caitlin, Dewey (January 13, 2014). "This is what happens when you create an online community without any rules". The Washington Post.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Chen, Adrian (October 27, 2014). "Gamergate Supporters Partied at a Strip Club This Weekend". New York (magazine).
  7. ↑ Audureau, William (October 15, 2014). "4chan, wizardchan, 8chan... s'y retrouver dans la jungle des forums anonymes les plus populaires du Web". Le Monde (in French) (France).
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Bernstein, Joseph (December 4, 2014). "GamerGate’s Headquarters Has Been Destroyed By Trolls". Buzzfeed.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Hern, Alex (January 13, 2015). "Gamergate hits new low with attempts to send Swat teams to critics". The Guardian. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  10. ↑ Mattise, Nathan (January 4, 2015). "8chan tries "swatting" GamerGate critic, sends cops to an old address". Ars Technica.
  11. ↑ McElroy, Justin (January 15, 2015). "Police falsely called to Burnaby women’s home by online harassers". Global News. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  12. ↑ Eagland, Nick (January 13, 2015). "It's '100 per cent terrorism': Burnaby victim decries Internet 'swatting' that brought Mounties to her door". The Province (Vancouver: Postmedia Network). Retrieved January 16, 2015.
  13. ↑ Cheong, Ian Miles (January 13, 2015). "Canadian Victim of Gamergate SWATing Attempt Comes Forward". Gameranx. Retrieved January 16, 2015.
  14. ↑ Machkovech, Sam (February 12, 2015). "Notorious 8chan "subboard" has history wiped after federal judge’s doxing". Ars Technica. Retrieved February 13, 2015.

External links