Understanding Anonymity and Confidentiality at Meetings

Anonymity protects a person's identity as a member of a fellowship. Members do not disclose who else attends, what anyone shared, or that a specific person is in recovery. It is a protection for the individual, and it is treated as a core principle rather than a courtesy.

In practice, this means you can attend a meeting without your employer, your family, or your community learning about it. Many people find that this is what makes honest conversation possible.

Virtual meetings introduce practical questions. Some platforms display participant names, some record attendance, and some are open to anyone with a link. Meetings usually explain their own approach, and it is reasonable to ask before you share anything personal.

A useful default is to use only a first name online, keep your camera off until you are comfortable, and treat anything said in the meeting as confidential, because the same expectation applies to you.

If you attend an open meeting as a guest, the expectation of confidentiality applies to you too. That includes not repeating what you heard, and not telling others who you saw there.

Anonymity is about identity, not secrecy about recovery existing. Members are free to talk about their own recovery; what they may not do is reveal someone else's.