The cybergroup known as Anonymous conducted a series of attacks in February of 2010 in response to the Australian governments proposed web censorship regulations. Operation Titstorm was the name given to the cyber attacks by the attackers. The attack began as a protest responding to a plan by Australian Telecommunications Minister Stephen Conroy that would require internet service providers to block Australian users from accessing illegal and what the government deemed as "unwanted" content. Websites to be blocked feature pornography showing rape, bestiality, child sex abuse, small-breasted women (who may appear under the legal age), and female ejaculation. The proposed filter also includes gambling sites along with others showing drug use. Anonymous conducted a DDoS attack, or Distributed Denial of Service attack that resulted in lapses of access to government websites on the 10th and 11th of February, 2010. This was accompanied by emails, faxes, and phone calls harassing government offices. The actual size of the attack and number of perpetrators involved is unknown but it was estimated that the number of systems involved ranged from the hundreds to the thousands. The amount of traffic caused disruption on multiple government websites.
Do you feel this is a viable form of protest? Would you participate in this form of protesting? Do you think this would be effective?
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/February_2010_Australian_cyberattacks
Yes I think it's a very effective kind of protest. One of the greatest pillars of the internet is to maintain openness and net neutrality. Once governments open the door to censorship, its hard to close. Usually the way censorship happens is by censoring things that most people don't view anyways, and so there is little protest. Once people have become used to it, then they will begin censoring more and more.
ReplyDeleteAll that being said, yes I think what they are doing is right, even thought the method may be questionable.
Can we talk about what makes a protest effective? It seems that the a protest that achieves its goal of stopping a government action is successful and I would argue, legitimate. Is this despicable and disgusting? Yes, but neccesary to achieve the result they were looking for. Neither party is clearly in the right, but the bottom line is that they had the power to protest in that way. Would I join them? No. Can we deny them? No.
ReplyDeleteThere are certain ways in conducting a protest, in order to become effective while protesting you should be morally responsible. I have seen some of Anonymous' protests via youtube and the news and quite frankly some of the ways the are conducting protests is very innovative but also scary as well. I would participate in this form of protest if the event affected me physically or emotionally, however people protest about the smallest and questionable things these days. What Anonymous has been doing has been effective because it brings to light wrongs that are happening that are not always portrayed or shown on the news. However do you think ethics should be involved while protesting? or should you just go for the jugular and see what happens. Very interesting article, enjoyed reading this.
ReplyDeleteI don't agree with cyberterrorism as a respectable form of protest. The methods used in Austraila may have raised awareness of the issue, but at what cost? Many people who may have been in need of urgent government assistant were needlessly harmed. There could have been deadlined missed as a result of the interruption to government websites. I understand frustration with government censorship, however, the issue would have to be of dire importance to warrant such extreme measures.
ReplyDeleteThis is awful! I can't believe that people would actually agree to protest something like this. I don't agree that government should be allowed to constantly view what people are looking at and block it but if it's things such as what is listed above I don't see the harm. Pornography is a touchy subject for women because we aren't as likely to view this in my opinion so I understand that males would probably see that their is no harm done here, but when looking at children, underaged females, rape and etc things of that nature should be blocked because that helps no one. This form of protest is unethical. I believe that if your fighting for a good cause then maybe this form would be okay. But to send disgusting emails, and dangerous faxes = a bad situation!
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