2008 Woodie Awards
Cyberterrorism, hacktivism: Trying to find hope
Anonymous fights Co$ while Chinese launch cyber attacks on human rights groups
Scott Stewart
Issue date: 3/25/08 Section: Opinion
Perhaps the most striking scene from the protests so far came out of Atlanta, specifically the Georgia Church of Scientology in Dunwoody, where YouTube videos showed riot police arresting protestors on March 15.
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, in all five protestors were cited under an ordinance against "causing 'hazardous' or 'offensive' conditions." Eight motorists were also pulled over for honking their horns, being ticketed for excessive use of horns.
In response to Anonymous' efforts, representatives of the Church of Scientology made several statements. In a report for the Los Angeles Times, David Sarno wrote, "The church has referred to Anonymous as a group of 'cyberterrorists' and, in a statement, said the group's aims were 'reminiscent of al-Qaida spreading anti-American hatred and calling for U.S. destruction."
In milder terms, representatives of the church have called Anonymous bigoted and hateful. The church has compared Anonymous to Nazis, communists and terrorists, just to name a few things.
What Anonymous really has done is far less ominous: It has staged protests and, yes, some of its members have engaged in milder forms of "hacktivism," the merger of activism and hacking. Looking at the situation online, it seems likely that Anonymous has perpetrated denial-of-service attacks, faxing pages of black ink to the church, spamming its members e-mail accounts, etc.
Compared to the amount of censorship and litigation the Church of Scientology has done to online forums (example: the 2001 forcing of a link to the text of "OT III" off Slashdot.org, for example), this sort of pretty vandalism has a sort of cathartic justice to it. (Of course, that doesn't make it legal; it only seems to make it more a matter of free speech and legitimate protest than the simple, pointless crime it would otherwise be.)
If you want a look at real cyberterrorists, you need only glance across the Pacific to China, which seems to be allowing if not supporting systematic cyber attacks against pro-Tibet and human rights groups.
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, in all five protestors were cited under an ordinance against "causing 'hazardous' or 'offensive' conditions." Eight motorists were also pulled over for honking their horns, being ticketed for excessive use of horns.
In response to Anonymous' efforts, representatives of the Church of Scientology made several statements. In a report for the Los Angeles Times, David Sarno wrote, "The church has referred to Anonymous as a group of 'cyberterrorists' and, in a statement, said the group's aims were 'reminiscent of al-Qaida spreading anti-American hatred and calling for U.S. destruction."
In milder terms, representatives of the church have called Anonymous bigoted and hateful. The church has compared Anonymous to Nazis, communists and terrorists, just to name a few things.
What Anonymous really has done is far less ominous: It has staged protests and, yes, some of its members have engaged in milder forms of "hacktivism," the merger of activism and hacking. Looking at the situation online, it seems likely that Anonymous has perpetrated denial-of-service attacks, faxing pages of black ink to the church, spamming its members e-mail accounts, etc.
Compared to the amount of censorship and litigation the Church of Scientology has done to online forums (example: the 2001 forcing of a link to the text of "OT III" off Slashdot.org, for example), this sort of pretty vandalism has a sort of cathartic justice to it. (Of course, that doesn't make it legal; it only seems to make it more a matter of free speech and legitimate protest than the simple, pointless crime it would otherwise be.)
If you want a look at real cyberterrorists, you need only glance across the Pacific to China, which seems to be allowing if not supporting systematic cyber attacks against pro-Tibet and human rights groups.
Viewing Comments 1 - 7 of 7
David
posted 3/25/08 @ 4:53 PM CST
It makes me proud to see people, especially young ones, stand-up and face an abusive organization like the Church of Scientology.
Of course the Church of Scientology is going to try to label them as "religious bigots" and "terrorists" while resorting to ad hominem attacks comparing them to the KKK or Al Qaeda. (Continued…)
Marc Abian
posted 3/25/08 @ 4:57 PM CST
Following video about anonymous seems relavent to the article:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=cuHF_br-DBs
Tony Meman
posted 3/25/08 @ 5:46 PM CST
For more on why Anonymous is opposed to Scientology:
www.exscientologykids.com
Come on Down!
posted 3/25/08 @ 10:42 PM CST
The website is exscientologykids.org, not .com, but by all means, please read up on the criminal activities of the Church of Scientology at xenu.net and/or exscientologykids. (Continued…)
DamOTclese
posted 3/26/08 @ 11:32 AM CST
Anonymous is doing what law enforcement is supposed to be doing: Putting a stop to an organized crime syndicate. Scientology is organized crime. Its history and its current actions are bespeak a criminal enterprise, one that engages in racketeering, blackmail, extortion, kidnapping, murder, money laundering, all the usual RICO predicate acts, all designed to seporate the marks, rubes, and suckers from their money. (Continued…)
Rosemary
posted 3/26/08 @ 7:09 PM CST
If Anonymous are some of the worst people on the internet then you haven't been a member of the "church" of Scientology. See exscientologykids.com for more information,or many other websites that give clear and concise information on what Scientology is all about. (Continued…)
Brad Bauman
posted 7/21/08 @ 11:04 PM CST
Curious series of responses. They appear quite contrived and reminiscent of propaganda the Nazi party disseminated against the Jews in Germany. No hint of true observations based upon direct involvement, just second hand comments lifted from questionable, uncredible sources meant to foment hate. (Continued…)
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