privacy explainer
CAN ANONYMOUS
MESSAGES BE TRACED?
A straight answer about anonymity and tracing, and what that means for anyone using anonymous question links.
Short answer
Anonymous messaging is not the same as untraceable messaging. In ICL, responses can be anonymous to other people, but safety systems, rate limits and moderation still apply — and abusive behavior can still be acted on.
What ICL does
ICL does not promise that anonymous messages cannot be traced. Anonymity lowers the social stakes for honest answers; it is not a shield for harmful behavior.
Use it the right way
Do not use anonymous messaging to threaten, harass, or share personal information. Report anything harmful — the tools exist so abuse can still be handled.
We cannot speak for other apps
If you are using a different anonymous messaging service, check that app's own privacy policy for how they handle anonymity and data. Every service is different.