What you are describing is not the current incarnation of Anonymous, but rather its celebrated heritage.
As of 2024, any sponsored social media campaign by corporate actors, for example, can don the Guy Fawkes mask and claim popular support.
I see this on a daily basis on social media. Quite often the group calling itself "Anonymous Collective" or somesuch appears to be big oil, spouting anti-government rhetoric.
The real Anonymous would point out corporate levers behind governmental acts, etc.
Yes, claiming "Anonymous" can form the same lie as any other lie towards the end of public support. But it kinda also means that the concept of "Anonymous", the 'amorphous mass', still exists to be lied with. And in a way, it can't be killed (or usurped) since nothing¹ can prevent new amorphous blobs of people to congeal elsewhere, becoming a new "Anonymous".
¹ well, except maybe mind control, or a truly orwellian control of language to eradicate ideas.
As of 2024, any sponsored social media campaign by corporate actors, for example, can don the Guy Fawkes mask and claim popular support.
I see this on a daily basis on social media. Quite often the group calling itself "Anonymous Collective" or somesuch appears to be big oil, spouting anti-government rhetoric. The real Anonymous would point out corporate levers behind governmental acts, etc.