Hacker collective Anonymous has unfurled a new cyber plan that targets Anders Behring Breivik, the man accused of the horrific two-fold bombing and shooting rampage that claimed the lives of over 70 people in Oslo, Norway last week. Some are questioning if the group's unique method, though seemingly well-intentioned, is equally well-thought-out.
The mission, dubbed "Operation UnManifest," is aimed specifically at Breivik's 1,500-page+ anti-Islam manifesto, "2083: A European Declaration of Independence" (.pdf). In a twisted response to the author's request that readers "distribute this book to your friends and ask them to forward it to their friends, especially to individuals who have a patriotic mindset," Anonymous seeks to completely scrub the original document's meaning from existence and replace it with "stupid stuff" as a way to strip its author of power.
The group uploaded the scant details of "Operation UnManifest" to PasteBin:
As Anders Behring Breivik wants to use the cruel action of killing over 90 young people to promote his 1516-page manifesto, also with the help of the internet, Anonymous suggests following action: 1. Find the Manifest of Anders Behring Breivik : 2083 – A European Declaration of Independence 2. Change it, add stupid stuff, remove parts, shoop his picture, do what you like to..... 3. Republish it everywhere and up vote releases from other peoples, declare that the faked ones are original 4. Let Anders become a joke, such that nobody will take him serious anymore 5. Spread this message around the internet and real life, translate it 6. Have a moment for the victims of his cruel attacks We all are anonymous, We all are Legion, We all do not forgive murder, We all do not forget the victims.
Some, however, feel the group isn't in the right on this one. Many left comments on the Cnet article that broke the story dismissing or attacking Anonymous' new effort and the collective itself.
One person wrote "What they do isn't civil disobedience. They're vandals and thieves. They also don't get that the best way to change public opinion isn't through silencing disagreeable opinions directly or by modifying them into something completely different. If there's an ugly manifesto, keep it out there as is, unedited. That way, it's a more effective target for intelligent commentary and debate."
Others voiced concerns that Anonymous' actions could impede law enforcement authorities' investigations into Breivik. Another critic, alluding to the recent arrests of suspected Anonymous members in the U.S., quipped, "This is like Hitler sending a letter to the Iraqis saying he though Sadam [SIC] was insane and not a good person. The message is meaningless from criminals."
So far, Anonymous has not published any further details on the operation at either its news site or its "AnonOps" blog. Breivik, who pleaded not guilty to the numerous crimes, is currently awaiting trial in Norway. (via Cnet)
