Cryptome shut by ISP

A WEBSITE that published documents from outfits ranging from British "intelligence" to Christian "fundamentalism" has been closed by its ISP (internet service provider).

Cryptome, a website concerned with encryption, privacy, and government secrecy, got two weeks' notice from Verio.

Verio claims that its service will be terminated for unspecified "violation of [its] Acceptable Use Policy."

But it is fairly clear that Verio has had a gutful of people writing to it demanding that Cyptome take down a document that they don't like.

Most of the complaints are being made under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) and the complainers are saying that by publishing the information it infringes their copyright.

Among the take down notices was one from Her Majesty's "Secret Service" and another one from a Northern Ireland Court.

It seems that the strategy of silencing such websites by leaning on their ISPs is a much better bet than court orders directed at the website.

More here. µ