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Anonymous issues a warning over the US Protect IP Act
HACKTIVIST GROUP Anonymous has issued a warning to US lawmakers and media content rights holders over the introduction of the Protect IP Act.
The group, which is widely believed to have been responsible for the initial round of attacks on Sony's networks, issued a press release condeming the Protect IP Act and calling on internet users to fight for their online freedom.
The Protect IP Act gives US authorities a number of new powers, such as the legal rights to seize domain names, block web sites at the ISP level, censor search engines and freeze assets.
A number of web site domains have already been seized over charges of copyright infringement as part of the "Operation In Our Sites", but this is likely to increase now that the Protect IP Act has been passed. If a web site cannot be taken offline, as many are hosted outside the US, then the new powers allow US authorities to force ISPs to block access to the web sites in question, an approach that has been called "draconian" by supporters of free speech.
Anonymous said that people must protect the freedom of the internet, highlighting the recent events in Egypt, Tunisia and Iran as examples of how the internet can serve as a powerful force against oppression. Some of those regimes attempted to censor the internet to curb dissent, only to be ultimately toppled. The last thing US authorities should want is to be compared with them.
The group said that the US government is using copyright protection as a disguise for censorship of web sites it does not like, and that instead of reducing so-called 'piracy' it will endanger the free flow of information.
Anonymous then directed its attention to the lawmakers and the RIAA and MPAA, saying that these agencies have declared war on the internet, ignoring the First, Fourth and Fifth Amendments to the US Constitution. It said it is a war that they cannot win and called for these organisation to cease their attempts at censorship, or else "face the wrath of the Hivemind".
If Anonymous was responsible for Sony's recent troubles, then perhaps lawmakers and the media copyright cartels should not take this threat too lightly. µ
Tags: Internet
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"Hacktivist Anal-onymous is talking shitze as usual. Their dribble about free speech has nothing to do with free speech at all."
Seizing websites with no proof of any wrong doing has everything to do with free speech.
"Piracy is a crime and Anal-onymous are criminals. These folks will end up in prison where they belong."
If a crime ACTUALLY took place you wouldn't have much of a problem proving it in a court of law.
It is time that the US government and the companies they represent(we know they haven't represent the people for many years)get the crap kicked out of them by a bunch of people that truly understand what this new freedom is all about. The old structure is dying like the dinosaurs of old and is lashing out at what is killing.....the people have found their voice and are starting to use it!~!!
I gotta admit the protect IP act is a very dangerous thing to have on the books. As it stands it's pretty much a first step towards something like the Great Firewall of China.
For now I doubt most people will loose much sleep over it but if they start messing with porn sites I'd give it 6 months before the people start to rebel.
Anonymous have a point.
Reports from Sandvine are showing that the biggest use of the internet in North America is no longer Bittorrent but in fact NetFlix a legal online service.
Which shows (which millions of people have been sugesting for god knows how long now) that if the MAFIAA had spent as much time remodeling their bussiness models for the internet than they did suing old grannies, then they probably wouldnt be in the hole most of them are now in. - this was common sense.
So either the U.S government has pushed these laws in for huge lobby groups - not in the interest of the people OR it has its own agenda in pushing through these laws, and given the reality of the U.S at the moment (for example large monitors going into super-markets asking people to spy on their neighbours) then going after the ability to shutdown websites or other communications paths which the U.S government (and other governments willing to sign up to this) doesnt like doesnt seem that far fetched at all.
Hacktivist Anal-onymous is talking shitze as usual. Their dribble about free speech has nothing to do with free speech at all. Piracy is a crime and Anal-onymous are criminals. These folks will end up in prison where they belong.
I wish them luck on their endever to keep free speach free. However I suspect that my government that is dictated to by super wealthy greedy old men will have them all shot in their sleep.
Still, I admire their efforts and openness about it.
At least their not some crooked CIA team killing people under disguise of another group hoping to start a war to benifit an oil company (did I just say that out loud)