All the latest UK technology news, reviews and analysis
|
|
|
28 Jan 2008
A group of internet users calling themselves 'Anonymous' has been waging war on the Church of Scientology.
The group has launched a denial of service attack on the Scientology.org website and has published a page on Wikipedia to recruit others to the cause.
The bone of contention is the posting of an online video showing movie star Tom Cruise explaining the principles of Scientology.
YouTube and other video sharing sites removed the video at the request of the Scientologists, but one site, Gawker, has kept it online.
After threats of legal action against the site the 'Anonymous' group declared that enough was enough.
"Project Chanology was coined as a description of the 'covert' plan, the main goal of which is to enlighten the Church of Scientology by any means necessary, " the group said on its website.
"This will be a game of mental warfare. It will require our talkers, not our hackers. It will require our dedicated Anon across the world to do their part."
The group appears to have briefly taken down a Scientology site earlier in the month but there has been no official confirmation.
Scientology information website Operation Clambake condemned the attacks. "Attacking Scientology like that will just make them play the religious persecution card," said its Norwegian organiser Andreas Heldal-Lund.
"They will use it to defend their own counteractions when they try to shatter criticism and crush critics without mercy.
"I believe we are better than this cult and, face to face using democratic tools, most free and thinking individuals will see through their charade."
The Scientology movement, started by science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard in the 1950s, has been very active in protecting its online brand and has even sued Google.
Latest stories from Security
Related articles
Related jobs
Poll
What is the most important IT priority for your company this year?
Hands on with the highly anticipated Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich hybrid tablet
Connect with V3.co.uk
This paper focuses on a series of best practices and techniques for development teams looking to improve their software development processes
Why good data management at all levels is essential in the modern business (video, 6mins)
Leading Financial Trading Systems Brokerage / Capital...
Technical Consultant - Windows, Virtualisation, HP, Server...
The role requires an experienced Project Manager, particularly...
iPhone and iPad developer required! We are seeking...
Keep up to date with the latest products, services and technologies from the world's leading IT companies. IThound.com brings you over 2,000 white papers, case studies and analyst reports.
Do you agree?
Anonymous for protection
The Church of Scientology viciously stalk their critics. Through their concept of "Fair Game", they use their faith as justification to stalk anyone who speaks out against the Church. A reporter from BBC's Panorama did a story on Scientology. Throughout his time in America he was stalked, followed everywhere, and any critics he tried to speak to where soon met by members of the church, disclosing personal information, criminal records, and other information in order to discredit the sources. Meanwhile in Britain, scientologists began to harass the the reporters' family. He writes that since the documentary was made, his family have been continually stalked, and scientologist agents have even tried to crash the his wedding. Since the documentary, the reporter has not been involved in any BBC productions. His career has been ruined, and almost 1 year after the documentary was made, he is still being stalked by the Church. Anonymous are determined to bring the Church of Scientology, a profiteering business capitalising on peoples fear and superstition, to justice. Anonymous remain so to ensure that their lives are not ruined by the church. Anonymous protesters wear masks, and change their clothes before and after gatherings to ensure they are not followed home, -to ensure that their families remain safe. Anonymous protesters put their future on the line in order to stand up for what they believe in, and to bring down an oppressive cult which threatens the freedom of thousands of people across the world. Anonymous hide their identity to keep their families safe. They are not cowards, they are heroes.
Posted by: Admirer of anonymous 01 Mar 2008
Anonymous
I am one of the so-called hackers... And i proudly call myself anonymous. Granted the people from *chan (its not just 4chan, there are many chans) are not the smartest lot... more like sheep than anything else... one sheep goes that way, they all go that way... However from what i have researched, read, and learned on my own there is a lot of strange and unfortunate events that seem to happen to a lot of people shortly after they join. I can see, after one reads what i have read, seen what i have seen, and heard what i have heard, how someone would jump into this thinking that Scientology is a corporation that needs to be brought down. This isnt to say that all of scientology is bad... just like not all lawyers are bad... it only takes a few to give the whole group a bad rep. It is my hopes, however, that this day brings some light to those that may be connected to the few "bad" groups and change their ways. I also hope that the protests, however they are carried out, are done in a peaceful manner, an that no legal or moral laws are broken. We have the right to protest, but lets not abuse it.
Posted by: Anonymous 10 Feb 2008
Scientology. is Scientology Equals LOSS OF DOSH
Scientology equals -Loss of money and your -SECRET'S if any, that you trust in their Keeping WILL and ARE USED without MERCY...TO KEEP YOU A SCIENTOLOGIST.. Join ANON its Free...
Posted by: Anon 07 Feb 2008
10TH OF FEB
10TH OF FEB
Posted by: anon 31 Jan 2008
About Joxe Arkaitz
Joxe Arkaitz is a longtime member of Scientology and has been posting the same 2 or 3 comments to _alot_ of articles about Scientology recently (Google will set you free). "It has been funny to read all those invented stories in the media during all these years. That is not Scientology. They are just fabrications and have nothing to do with the actual Scientology that I've known first hand for so many years." - Well, Joxe, you will find all about the real Scientology once you reach the right OT level. Hope you have a few more thousand dollars to spare.
Posted by: Anonymous 29 Jan 2008
We are not against Scientology beliefs.
Joxe, Anonymous is not after you. Anonymous is very happy that you found guidance in whatever beliefs Scientology has taught you. Anonymous is after the criminal collective behind the leadership of Scientology, the onces that seem to have so much to hide that they are terrified of any of their "documents" getting publicized.
Posted by: Anon Ymous 29 Jan 2008
Anonymous cowards
Honest and brave people have nothing to hide but cowards have lots to hide and hide themselves behind this name "Anonymous" which could very well be exchanged by "Cowards" - they mean the same to most people.
Posted by: Joxe Arkaitz 28 Jan 2008
One star
One star for the use of "internet users" to describe Anonymous, the rest of this article is outdated. Lurk moar and thou shall find more interesting things to write about!
Posted by: Anon 28 Jan 2008