To what extent does the demand and development of online anonymity interact with efforts to achieve universal design and preserve copyright protections? Based on original research, currently in progress, this article establishes a rational choice model for policy actors involved in the adoption of online anonymity technology. The analysis then compares the model to qualitative data collected from a document analysis of media and government publications and quantitative data on web search trends. The results demonstrate the importance of a universal design approach to web content, the limitations of current legislative approaches to accessibility, and the unintended effects of intellectual property laws. The paper concludes by identifying opportunities for extending the empirical examination of the web as a site of intractable governance.