AnonFiles, founded in 2011, grew into a leading service that allowed users to share files of up to 20GB with no download restrictions. Its peculiarity was that it did not require registration, which ensured security and anonymity for uploading and downloading files. This value proposition attracted a consistent user base, but also those who shared content of dubious legality.
Almost parallel to the birth of Anon, Files was born at BayFiles.com, an affiliate service started by The Pirate Bay. Both websites had a similar design, offered identical features, and established themselves as benchmarks in the file hosting world.
With a popularity that has more than reached 18 million visitors per month, The X-Files did not go unnoticed by rights holders. It has repeatedly been called a “notorious” hacking site, drawing the attention of companies like the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America). That organization reported AnonFiles to the US Trade Representative in 2021, citing the site’s lack of response to notifications and its role in the proliferation of pirated content.
The current owners of AnonFiles, who acquired the site two years ago, faced a daunting challenge. Despite the implementation of automatic filters and filename restrictions, user abuse was overwhelming. With millions of uploads and petabytes of data, no measure seemed sufficient. This situation came to a head when the site’s proxy service was shut down, leading to AnonFiles making the difficult decision to shut down operations.
Even though the current AnonFiles team has decided to shut down operations, the name itself may not go away. The domain is for sale, and it invites others to take it over. However, the fate of BayFiles.com, which has also disappeared from the Internet, remains a mystery.
The AnonFiles story reminds us how complex it is to balance online freedom and responsibility. In a digital world where anonymity can be both an instrument of freedom and a weapon of abuse, sites like AnonFiles face unique challenges. The closure invites us to reflect on how we can protect freedom online while ensuring a safe space for all.
