Anonymous: Our Strongest Allies UPDATE

Your feelings towards Anonymous?

Cyber Terrorists	8.5%	[ 26 ]
Revolutionaries	66.4%	[ 204 ]
I'm in your poll, whoring it for gold.	25.1%	[ 77 ]
Total Votes:			[ 307 ]

[Diglett Chick]

NOTICE: This post has been found in violation of H.R. 3261, S.O.P.A. and has been censored.

It is becoming widely known that today, Thursday, January 19th, 2012, the government showed that they did not need SOPA or PIPA to shut down websites they accuse of infringing upon copyright laws by shutting down the file-sharing websites MegaUpload and MegaVideo.

However, shortly after the announcement of the shutdowns, Anonymous was in motion. For those who are unaware, Anonymous has been titled by many as a group of "cyber terrorists" for their powerful hacking skills and their successful hacking of MySpace, NATO, and child pornography sites--the latter of which they proceeded to shut down.



Today, Anonymous hacked and downed the sites for the following organizations: RIAA, MPAA, Universal Music Group, the US Copyright Office, BMI, the French copyright authority: HADOPI, the Department of Justice, and the FBI. Essentially, Anonymous has begun a cyber war; a war in defense of our rights.

Governments will happily try to do as they please, and it is Anonymous who could quite possibly force them to hear the people.

Update: 1/20/2012
As of January 19th, 2012, Anonymous sent an announcement to the United States Congress, telling them that they had gained access to the following website servers: The United Nations, Sony Playstation Network, Microsoft XPL, US Bank, Chase Bank, Capital One, YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook. They later threaten that they are ready to begin a full scale global blackout on these websites exactly 72 hours after the release of the video if MegaUpload is not reinstated to the internet.
They later go on to explain that they have the banking and credit card information of millions of citizens, but that the citizens should not fear for their security has not been compromised. That they have simply seized this information as a display to those who doubted their abilities.

Your thoughts on Anonymous and their actions? Revolutionaries or cyber terrorists?

Update
1/19/2012
Anonymous's official message about Operation Blackout--their retaliation against the US Government and their action taken against MegaUpload and MegaVideo.


Update
1/20/2012
SOPA and PIPA have been "postponed indefinitely."

Update
1/20/2012
This is Anonymous's official message to the United States Congress regarding their attack on MegaUpload and MegaVdeo. This video was uploaded on January 19th, 2012.


Update
1/20/2012
This is Anonymous's video that they released, urging the nation to come together and take action.


Update
1/21/2012
I have just stumbled across information about Lamar Smith's (the author of SOPA) lesser-known bill: PCFIPA--Protect Children from Internet Pornographers Act.
Critics of the bill word it perfectly. Here is a quote from the article I will link.

Quote:

" Critics accuse the bill of using “protecting children” as an excuse to violate civil liberties, comparing it to the argument that internet censorship (as recommended by SOPA and PIPA) was necessary to fight copyright infringement and piracy. "

http://live.drjays.com/index.php/2012/01/20/sopa-is-defeated-but-new-internet-bill-gains-critics/

Update
1/22/2012
Anonymous briefly took down the CBS website in retaliation for the government's raid on the popular filesharing website: MegaUpload. Many believe they will hit XBOX next.

And to those who support SOPA, I won't even consider a debate with you until you've watched this video in its entirety.


Not a US citizen but still want to help stop SOPA, PIPA, and future acts like them? Watch this video.


Here is a more lighthearted explanation of SOPA, PIPA and how we can't relax when it comes to these acts.
Unfortunately, it's not hosted on YouTube, so here's the link.

http://blip.tv/blizzblues-with-darnell/blizz-blues-45-sopa-is-not-dead-5894170

Here is a video that discusses the dramatic effect the storming of MegaUpload could have on you.


Sources:

http://rt.com/usa/news/anonymous-doj-universal-sopa-235/

http://www.tomsguide.com/us/Anonymous-Megaupload-SOPA-PIPA-DDoS,news-13953.html

http://rt.com/usa/news/pipa-indefinitely-sopa-internet-309/

http://venturebeat.com/2012/01/22/megaupload-retaliation-anonymous-takes-down-cbs/

[Hamsterliciousness]

All I know about Anon is that they're a powerful leaderless group that mainly stayes on 4chan except for some cyber attacks.

If SOPA/PIPA is passed, Anon *might* actually stand a chance against the government, but they're more wide spread then I thought they were....

[Bassy The Bobcat]

They're more powerful than you give them credit..


We are anonymous we are legion.

[Bassy The Bobcat]

Hamsterliciousness

All I know about Anon is that they're a powerful leaderless group that mainly stayes on 4chan except for some cyber attacks.

If SOPA/PIPA is passed, Anon *might* actually stand a chance against the government, but they're more wide spread then I thought they were....

They took down the FBI's, Homeland Security, DOS"ed them and to the moment they're still down. Most coordinated cyber attack ever recorded..

[Diglett Chick]

l Kiwie l

They took down the FBI's, Homeland Security, DOS"ed them and to the moment they're still down. Most coordinated cyber attack ever recorded..

NOTICE: This post has been found in violation of H.R. 3261, S.O.P.A. and has been censored.

To be honest, the people of Anonymous are my heroes.

[Diglett Chick]

NOTICE: This post has been found in violation of H.R. 3261, S.O.P.A. and has been censored.

[Diglett Chick]

NOTICE: This post has been found in violation of H.R. 3261, S.O.P.A. and has been censored.

Bump

[Mortuus Messor]

Anon will dominate if SOPA or PIPA is passed. They not only will crash every site that has anything to do with the government but they will also most likely lead a revolution!

[donotcancelme]

Mortuus Messor

Anon will dominate if SOPA or PIPA is passed. They not only will crash every site that has anything to do with the government but they will also most likely lead a revolution!

HAHA NO

Anonymous has power in numbers, but they're neither coordinated nor motivated enough to crash every single U.S. government website. One, sure, two, maybe, all of them, no.

P.S. Anon is not your personal army

[Mortuus Messor]

Never said they were my personal army.
But if this does pass then they will be motivated enough to do this and i agree, they might not be capable of taking all government websites down but if they try they will most likely succeed.

Thirty Hs

Mortuus Messor

Anon will dominate if SOPA or PIPA is passed. They not only will crash every site that has anything to do with the government but they will also most likely lead a revolution!

HAHA NO

Anonymous has power in numbers, but they're neither coordinated nor motivated enough to crash every single U.S. government website. One, sure, two, maybe, all of them, no.

P.S. Anon is not your personal army

[Diglett Chick]

Thirty Hs

NOTICE: This post has been found in violation of H.R. 3261, S.O.P.A. and has been censored.

In all fairness, they've got a pretty good running tally. They crashed eight government websites in one day... By no means all government websites, but a good number to start with.

[donotcancelme]

Mortuus Messor

Never said they were my personal army.
But if this does pass then they will be motivated enough to do this and i agree, they might not be capable of taking all government websites down but if they try they will most likely succeed.

Thirty Hs

Mortuus Messor

Anon will dominate if SOPA or PIPA is passed. They not only will crash every site that has anything to do with the government but they will also most likely lead a revolution!

HAHA NO

Anonymous has power in numbers, but they're neither coordinated nor motivated enough to crash every single U.S. government website. One, sure, two, maybe, all of them, no.

P.S. Anon is not your personal army

Even if they do manage to take down government websites, the law will remain the same and the enforcement will remain the same. Nothing will change.

[donotcancelme]

Diglett Chick

Thirty Hs

NOTICE: This post has been found in violation of H.R. 3261, S.O.P.A. and has been censored.

In all fairness, they've got a pretty good running tally. They crashed eight government websites in one day... By no means all government websites, but a good number to start with.

If SOPA does pass, Anon is most likely just going to find a way to hack around the new regulations (as they do). I will admit it's possible that some of them will decide to go on a campaign, but it's unlikely that they'll have any permanent effect if they do.

[SLOWbro of misfortune]

i think there all terrorists....they are like fire....they want to make help but end up destroying there goal in the prosses

[The Trancy Brat]

Sometimes we need groups like Anon to go to the extreme to fight for us, I for one am grateful that they are using their abilities to help show the government that this is bull.
I'm glad they're retaliating for Megaupload. It wasn't even a U.S. based site and to me, legal or not, shutting down a site in a different country for not following our copyright laws...just leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Taking down the whole site just because some people posted copyrighted material also tastes awful, someone get me some cake! D: