‘Exhilarating and Terrifying’: Anonymous Premiers ‘Hacktivist’ Documentary at SXSW
- Posted on March 14, 2012 at 8:52am by
Liz Klimas
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A documentary about the hacker collective Anonymous and hacktivism as a whole premiered this week at the South by Southwest (SXSW) social media and technology conference.
According to the website for “We are Legion: The Story of Hacktivists,” the documentary takes hacktivism back to its historical roots with groups like “Cult of the Dead Crow” and “Electronic Disturbance Theater.“ It shows how hacktivism has ”redefined civil disobedience for the digital age.” The film also explores the role of Anonymous in movements like the Arab Spring and Occupy Wall Street.
Watch the trailer released for the documentary in Nov. 2011 (Warning: Strong language and some visual content):
In the film, many share their thoughts about the group. One said, “Right now, you could argue that the most powerful people on Earth are a bunch of nameless, faceless 17 to 35-year-olds.” He goes on to say that the geo-political impact of the group it is both “exhilarating and terrifying.”
So far, the film has been getting rave reviews Twitter from those who attended the premier:
Austin’s KUT News (via the Huffington Post) reported on a panel session at the conference that featured filmmaker Brian Knappenberger and Gregg Housh, who was involved in the early “branding” of Anonymous. KUT reports that while the panel did touch on elements of the film, it focused on the movement as a whole covering issues like Anonymous’ hacking techniques and some of its targets:
The conversation dwelt upon recent and current events, including the revelation that Anonymous member “Sabu,” a powerful figure in Anonymous offshoot LulzSec, had been cooperating with federal authorities following his arrest. But a discussion two of LulzSec’s most controversial techniques – “doxing,” or releasing sensitive information about individuals online; and attacks on press outlets – sparked a broader conversation.
Housh said he was “on the fence” about doxing. While finding it objectionable, he cited an argument hackers make when they dump personal information online: “If we got in, then somebody else got in there already … We have to dump our data or you’re not going to believe it’s already out there when we dumped it.”
Regarding press attacks, Knappenberger cited Anonymous’ dissatisfaction with a report PBS’ “Frontline” aired on Bradley Manning, the army sergeant accused of providing thousands of diplomatic cables to Wikileaks. Dissatisfied with PBS’ treatment on the story, LulzSec allegedly broke into the PBS NewsHour webpage, posting a story claiming that deceased rapper Tupac Shakur is “still alive in New Zealand.”
“Anonymous should not be attacking the press,” said Housh, adding that if he deemed that acceptable, he’d need to “change my thoughts on free speech.”
KUT also states that three Anonymous members donning Guy Fawkes masks joined the panel — two via video stream and one in person. One of the members said that the group’s nameless, faceless and collective nature is both a blessing and a curse. He said it shows Anonymous’ power when only a small group of people can take down a website using a distributed denial of service attack (DDoS). This type of attack popular with the group is how sites like the Department of Justice, CIA and a variety of local government and private company sites have been temporarily flooded with traffic that stalls the server. On the flip side though, it also means that “any one person can co-opt Anonymous.”
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lukerw
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 4:51pmPropaganda: It is the ‘laughing man’ from the “Ghost in a Shell” animation!
Report Post »Windsong
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 3:39pmSince ‘anonymous’ consistently puts the people in this world in constant danger, I don’t consider them anything other than terrorists…really spinless terrorists. They are faceless because they are terrified of being seen standing for their own beliefs. They are anoymous because they are afraid of someone taking action against them for putting the lives of all people all over the world, all militaries, all private conversations and the ‘secrets’ of every country in jeopardy.
The good news is, their is another anonymous group out there. They, too, are all over the world. But, instead of harming people or putting anyone in danger, they have planned for the potential disaster that ‘anonymous’ may cause. So, when ‘anonymous’ decides to take down the internet, or turn off a power grid or cut off food supplies or start a war between countries, the network of good people all over the world will be completely unaffected.
Report Post »The humorous part is that, once anonymous takes down the internet, they won’t even be able to create fear anymore…muchless have any power.
Being young and all, they‘ll never survive in the new world they’re creating. But individuals in Iran, Egypt, Israel, America, Europe, Asia and every country on earth are prepared to survive without help from their governments, a military, grocery or other assorted stores or the internet. Their communications networks and food and medical supplies in every country will allow hearty and healthy survivor
Your_Friendly_Neighborhood_Anarchist
Posted on June 21, 2012 at 5:09pmYour statements about Anonymous show your ignorance about them. I recommend you turn off the television and actually listen to what Anonymous has to say, rather than calling them a “terrorist” organization. I suspect you may agree with a lot of their ideas.
Anonymous is non-violent, and has stated they will never attack the power grid (which was floated by the National Security Agency) because attacking it would take down the internet and would endanger people on life support in hospitals. They also warned that the statement by the NSA could be a precursor to a false flag instituted by the US Government to turn public opinion against Anonymous. Anonymous has a love of humanity, and a hatred for corruption and secrecy. Anonymous has also stated it will not attack the media or social networks, because that’s a form of censorship (which they are opposed to), and because they use the media and social networks for their operations, They will not attack the internet, because they need the internet to operate.
Just think about it rationally, and do some research that doesn’t involve the government filters associated with mainstream media. I hope you don’t take this as an attack, but at least try to understand the motivation. It’s a thing called “empathy,” which I know is a dirty word for many people, but it will help you to love all humanity, not just those in the group you identify with.
Love, Peace, and Liberty to all people!
Report Post »Robert2078
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 1:10pmLegion, also known as the Gadarene demon, or translated as Lots, is a demon found in the Christian Bible in Mark 5:9 and Luke 8:30. A parallel version of the story can be found in Matthew 8:28-34, but this version does not contain the name “Legion” and tells of two men, not just one, possessed by a multitude of demons. In the story, Jesus traveled to “the country of the Gadarenes” (Luke 8:37), “the country of the Gergesenes” (Matthew 8:28), or “the region of the Gerasenes” (Mark 5:1) and met a man possessed by an evil spirit, which spoke to Jesus in a conversation. The most commonly quoted version is found in Mark 5:9:
The Gospel of Mark, 5:9:
“And He (Jesus) asked him (the man), “What is thy name?” And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many. [it is argued that the phrasing is, "we are legion, for we are many]
The youth of the world are weak and will foolishly sacrifice their very soul to support criminals they idolize. This hacker collective “Anonymous” group now wants to call itself one of the the most vile & evil thing it could; Legion (Gadarene demon). And these fools think it sounds cool. The saying, “be careful what you wish for” applies to them perfectly. Because now they not only have the laws of the physical world to worry about, they have now foolishly summoned an evil and sealed their fate. And IT doesn’t care if they believe or not.
Report Post »db321
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 2:03pmSounds like this Group of idiots that calls themselves Legion has “MIGHTY” Power. Wow! Guess what God has “ALL MIGHTY POWER” you will go down in flames.
Report Post »Robert2078
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 12:48pmLegion is a group of demons referred to in the Christian Bible. The New Testament outlines an encounter where Jesus healed a man from Gadarenes possessed by demons while traveling, known as Exorcising the Gerasenes demonic.
Report Post »The Gospel of Mark, 5:9:
“And He (Jesus) asked him (the man), “What is thy name?” And he answered, saying, “My name is Legion: for we are many.”
CulperGang
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 12:14pmMelv Spit. Those that have nothing intelligent to say resort to AD HOMINEMS.
The rest of you(critising anon) are globalist goons and obamabots………WHO HATE THAT THE STATUS QUO is going to be rocked to the foundation and your putrid “corporate and political goons of bankers” won’t be there to employ you, selfish turds.
Report Post »CulperGang
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 12:38pmMelvin spittle what a disgusting moniker. One of the blazers amusing yourself are you???
NOT printing the replies I see. What the I post stuck in your throat!!!
Let me TEPEAT 4 you……EDUCATE THE UNIFORMS ON WHO THE REAL CRIMINALS ARE……the people marching are the victims of the “powerful 1% zillioneers.”
The uniforms should be arresting them! they are the real criminals. OBAMA IS NOW OPERATING OUTSIDE OF THE US CONSTITUION and has been for some time. Why are all the uniforms not arresting him??? There need not be bloodshed anywhere if the criminals were removed from society.
UNIFORMS NEED TO ARREST PELOSI/OBAMA/REID/GEITHNER they are outlaws.
Caligula DESTROYED until the UNIFORMS took action and took him out. ORDER WAS RESTORED.
Report Post »That is what needs to happen now. IT ALL DEPENDS ON THE UNIFORMS!!!!!
Read your history………Melv spit.(on you)
GeneTracy
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 1:02pmGenerally,when someone replies to their own post,it is an indication that they are talking to themselves.Mr.CULPERGANG,you might want to take a deep breath and take it down a notch.
Report Post »Melvin Spittle
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 12:07pmThat’s right. Let’s just burn it all down. The aim is to trigger martial law and ensure Barry’s reign of power by canceling the election. If you can’t win, create a national crisis to invoke martial law. Riots are not the answer and will bring the most pain on the innocent because the supposed “1%“ are prepared for the idiocy of the ”.001%” that think they are the majority.
Report Post »CulperGang
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 12:24pmWell, then I suggest that YOU get out there and EDUCATE people to what the 1% stand for:
ESPECIALLY those in uniform that crush people for the 1%… becuase THEY are the useful idiots of the 1% AND YOU DEMAND THAT ALL THESE 1% CRIMINALS BE REMOVED LEGALLY FROM THE SYSTEM!!!! We all would like to see that but IT IS NOT HAPPENING IS IT?????? We all would like to see the UNIFORMS paid for with our tax dollars PROTECT US FROM THESE CRIMINALS IN OFFICE AND IN THE CORPORATE WORLD(have you forgotten Enron???)
When the British Parliment member calls for the SAME THING AS ANON……obviously anon is on th right track. YOU ARE a globalist shill who cares nothing for others sufferings.
While you sit back these criminals are in charge. BUT YOU ARE ONE OF THEM AREN’T YOU???
Report Post »got your number pal.
CulperGang
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 12:28pmWell, then I suggest you get out there and educate the “Uniforms” to arrest the REAL criminals ……not ordinary people who are the victims of the criminals.
Report Post »rancorkeeper240
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 11:56amWhat if they do get into NYSE or clean out the banks? Just like hollywood “firesale”?
Report Post »CulperGang
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 12:07pmDerivatives RAPE your wealth. This will stop. The IRS of the Fed Res will aslo be stopped from creating rampant rules that make a criminal out of WAGE earners…..on the pain of turning over 75%!!!!!! of your earnings…..the EU is already demanding 65% of some nations(Scandinavia)
Report Post »75% is the stated goal of the globalists!! 75% of earnings to be turned over to the IMF….if globalism takes off in the 21st century. Do some research.
Melvin Spittle
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 12:12pmAnd when the US is in chaos, our enemies will seize the opportunity to seize our vulnerable throat.
Report Post »CulperGang
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 11:47amThis is NEW generation of 20/30 something people who WILL NOT ACCEPT THE GLOBALIST COMMUNIST/MARXITS ONE WORLD ORDER AGENDA OF THE 1% Zillioneers RAPING the collective wealth of HUMANITY. And waging wars of bloodlust.
Soros/Obama/Alinsky/Windors/Rothchilds/Pelosi/ Bankers et al: put your head between your legs and kiss your buttholle good bye! the 21st CENTURY is NOT going to have ONE Oligarch/Monarch/Dictatorship POLLUTE humanitys existence with their fILTHY GREED and Destructive ways. Politicians that do NOT serve HUMANITY and enhance HUMANITY……will be destroyed.
You may murder the opposition with your clandestine goons…..BUT YOU CAN’T KILL US ALL FOR EXPOSING AND REJECTING YOU TO THE DUSTBIN OF HISTORY!
KUDOS: Lord James BlackHeath for calling for a INVESTIGATION of GEITHNER and NYS Federal Reserve!!!(on U tube(if they have not removed it yet…UT is now censored)
KUDOS: to R. Paul despite media black out HE has the second MOST DELEGATES!!!!!
KUDOS: for the brave souls at ANON
KUDOS: US Senate calling for the IMPEACHMENT of tha foreign ghoul of bloodlust aka BARRY SOTEROE.
FREEDOM IS NOT NEGOTIABLE!!!!! Freedom for humanity for the bloodlust of the 1% in the 21st century.
Report Post »Melvin Spittle
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 12:01pmWho let you out of your momma’s basement? I see your meds need to be upped.
Report Post »GeneTracy
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 12:46pmYou’re right Melvin.Way up.
Report Post »Onowicit
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 7:26pm@CulperGang….. So the people 19 and under do not matter and the people 31 and older do not matter. its seems you are out numbered and you and your kind are definitely out gunned. I don’t think you even know how confused you and your squatter friends are. Please go back to your internet porno and smoking weed and leave the real REVOLUTION to the thinking people (people 1-19 and 31 to….)
Report Post »robinakilt
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 10:27amSometimes there needs to be a group of people who stand up and turn things on their ear to make others wake up! Funny how people will call some a terrorist so easily based off a little bit of information. The people running this government then could be considered terrorists as well because they us fear to control the masses! Freedom and Liberty must be preserved at all costs against Tyranny! Protect the Tree!
Report Post »Ruler4You
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 11:17amActually, I don‘t believe that you’d actually have to sneeze on a tablet, if government wanted to label you anything it wanted, it could. And they would get away with it. They OWN the common lexicon. And WE are slaves. Like it or not. That “IS” the way it “IS”.
Report Post »Mr Galt
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 10:12amI see the Blaze is continuing to hype these psychopaths. Where is the coverage of the huge bust that went down last week where the ring-leaders of the Stratfor hack were arrested after the leadership was infiltrated by an FBI informant?
Continuing their “invincibility” mystique serves no other purpose than to give them what they want. And failing to report major news like the above puts the Blaze in the same category as the rest of the MSM IMHO.
Report Post »CulperGang
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 12:01pmwith all due respect the only psychopaths are the sheeple who accept this unacceptable rising dictatorship in a “FREE WORLD.” The only psychopaths are those that accept the wars waged by their psychopaths in elected office who go around waging wars attacking other nations………and call it “nation building of democracy” while all the while the dictators RISE in those very same countries. THIS is what ANON is against and those that stand aside and do nothing are the sheeple of the psychopaths.
Report Post »Melvin Spittle
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 12:10pmCulperGang any truth in your message will be lost in the violence you advocate and those that use violence will be hunted down, their message lost. It will only serve to strengthen your enemy.
Report Post »Kitsune
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 9:24amAs much as I’d like to know how to hack, I really wouldn’t want to be part of a “group” that justifies semi-random theft as the means to the end of “shaping the power structure”.
For the ones who are anarchists (as opposed to marxist utopians), who is going to keep the networks running when the resources are no longer there to do so?
Only the “ruin lifestyle” guy at the very top of the hacker power structure is going to be the guy with any power outside of it.
Report Post »Mr Galt
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 10:22amThey are more about “cracking” than “hacking” Kitsune. Hacking can be completely benign and useful. It simply means to alter the functionality of something in a way not originally intended by the designer(s). Cracking on the other hand deals with “busting into” systems – electronic B&E. The primary way Anonymous has operated is by creating a “cracking” program that anyone can operate. That program looks for a wide variety of common and somewhat more esoteric security vulnerabilities. They upload this program to a public space, and encourage wannabees to download it and begin running distributed attacks on systems. Successful breakins are then “phoned home” so that the more skilled people can exploit the holes.
Their success says more about the poor quality of Systems security IMHO than it does about their “awesome skill”. The Stratfor hack being an excellent example of this.
Report Post »mike_trivisonno
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 9:15amTools of Jihad.
Report Post »TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 9:06am“We are Legion” You are nerds. Dangerous nerds.
Report Post »Locked
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 9:24amI saw that movie, revenge of the nerds. A little knowledge can be quite dangerous!
The problem that I’ve seen is that, while most Anonymous members are low-level “hackers” (really, a DDOS attack is relatively simple to pull off), some of them are really quite good. These are the ones who are doxing materials and releasing them to the public; the ones hacking into e-mails or figuring out passwords. They’re also the smart ones who, unlike those from LulzSec, know how to cover their tracks and not get caught. When the best cybersecurity of the government can’t keep up with these guys, what danger are they really in? You can catch all the DDOSers you want; if you don’t take down (and flip) the truly skilled ones, you can’t fight back against the truly scary stuff.
Report Post »TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 9:48amLOCKED. I’m a fairly old dude… from the old school long before all this tech. My computer skills are pretty basic, keep a cell phone for emergencies (the only thing attached to my ear is an earlobe), never annoy people with cell conversations in a quite room or theater, never had a beeper and scratch my head at what some of these youngsters today do in their “creative” spare time.
Reminds me of the good old days when skateboarders were thrown a body block or a clothesline tackle just because they were nerds on skateboards. Now the Skateboarders are considered “way cool”, and computer nerds think they have “mad skills”, lol.
Me? I prefer to clothesline them if they can be identified.
Report Post »Locked
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 9:59am@Time
It’s pretty scary what people can do these days with a bit of knowledge and technology. Near my community recently there were a rash of car burglaries. People would go out to their cars and find all the contents messed up and out of place; the burglars would go through and hunt for valuables, like wallets or GPS systems. The police eventually figured out how it was happening; the robber would sit in his car with a device that could record to “lock/unlock” signal from a car key. Once the driver was away, they would simply approach the car, replay the signal, and unlock the car. It took nearly two dozen reported crimes (and who knows how many didn’t report?) before they figured out what was happening!
Obviously that’s not strictly computer-related, but it goes to show that you always need to be careful these days!
Report Post »countrysideflair
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 1:11pmSo should we lock up all those with intelligence? Maybe we can put them in camps, we could probably use the old Japanese internment camps to save money. The government knows whats coming, in fact they seem to be pushing it… so that is why they are passing all these unConstitutional laws. To get control over everyone.
The 99ers will start it, the others will fight it, the government will step in and try to control it. They will fail, due to their incompetence in understanding the problem and how far people will go to be free. The government will then make a decision… will they go “overboard”? If so, new fascist government will arrive, “new” Constitution… the Federal Government will become your Creator.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 8:58amThe video attempts to cover up what Anonymous is in the end: Cyber terrorists.
Report Post »MammalOne
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 9:26amTerrorists? That’s like calling graffiti artists “paint terrorists”. If anything, they’re digital thieves and vandals but terrorists? Come on, this isn’t 2004 anymore.
Report Post »CulperGang
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 11:52amThe only terrorist in the world are the bankers and the 1% zillioners….who just jacked up the price of gas and will keep jacking it………WHY??? there is more than enough crude oil in the world…so why???? think before you critizise.
Report Post »Melvin Spittle
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 12:19pmThey are terrorists.
terrorist [ˈtɛrərɪst]
n
(Government, Politics & Diplomacy)
a. a person who employs terror or terrorism, esp as a political weapon
b. (as modifier) terrorist tactics
terroristic adj
Is not the destruction of digital commerce terrorism?
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 8:56am“We are Legion” When you quote the words of a demon as your motto, I’m just a tad suspicious…call me crazy.
Report Post »Locked
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 9:06amCrazy!
(Sorry, too easy. You did ask for it!)
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 9:17amBeen called worse Locked :-)
Report Post »BKC1869
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 9:20amThe people who created it no doubt know what the phrase means. Most of the mindless idiots who think anonymous is cool probably have no idea though.
Report Post »CulperGang
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 11:55amAs in Roman Legion ………..gonzo. duh.
Report Post »