Watching Anonymous in action is far better than most of the programming on television. Anonymous seems to be in a never-ending battle against the “evils” that surround mere mortals. Recent past battles have been waged against PayPal, Master Card, Visa and the Church of Scientology. Now Facebook appears to be squarely in Anonymous’ sights.
Wait…Facebook? The social network that hosts my Cancun pictures? The one where people give away those goofy Farmville chicken? The place where I can find out what my kids are really up to today? The single most powerful hactivist group in the world is going after Facebook?
Yep, on November 5, 2011 (Guy Fawkes Day, which is celebrated in Britain to commemorate Fawkes and his fellow co-conspirators unsuccessful attempt to blow up British House of Lords in 1605) “Operation Facebook” will bring Facebook to its knees. Anonymous states, “your medium of communication you all so dearly adore will be destroyed.”
Select quotes from Anonymous include:
Facebook has been selling information to government agencies and giving clandestine access to information security firms so that they can spy on people from all around the world. You cannot hide from the reality in which you, the people of the internet, live in. Facebook is the opposite of the Antisec cause. You are not safe from them nor from any government. One day you will look back on this and realize what we have done here is right, you will thank the rulers of the internet, we are not harming you but saving you.
The riots are underway. It is not a battle over the future of privacy and publicity. It is a battle for choice and informed consent. It’s unfolding because people are being raped, tickled, molested, and confused into doing things where they don’t understand the consequences. Facebook keeps saying that it gives users choices, but that is completely false. It gives users the illusion of and hides the details away from them “for their own good” while they then make millions off of you. When a service is “free,” it really means they’re making money off of you and your information.
We are anonymous …We are legion … We do not forgive … We do not forget … Expect us
These guys are good – check out a recent YouTube post. Given the end of social networking as we know it is near, I would suggest gathering up as many Facebook friends as you can so you can be the friend winner when at the close. And, if I could ask a favor, can you send me all of your Farmville chickens since you won’t be using them anymore.
Related: How Operation Payback and Hacktivism are Rocking the ‘Net