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Ear to the Ground

Anonymous Is Going to Try to Kill Facebook (Video)

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Posted on Aug 9, 2011
Enrique Dans (CC-BY)

Remember, remember the fifth of November 2011. That’s the day hactivist collective Anonymous plans to “kill” the second-busiest website on the Internet “for the sake of your own privacy.” In a video message, Anonymous warns that “you are not safe from them [Facebook] nor from any government” to which the social networking website feeds information.

It “is impossible” for Facebook members to delete their own accounts, the message continues, and “Facebook knows more about you than your family.” Unless your family is on Facebook, in which case your relatives tend to know all too much about you.

Anonymous has a lot of trophies on its wall, but Facebook is an ambitious target, perhaps having been selected as a show of strength amid police raids against alleged members of Anonymous.

If the group is successful, in addition to upsetting Facebook it will irritate many of Facebook’s 750 million active users, who, together with the site’s other visitors, twiddle away more than 700 billion minutes each month poking each other (this according to Facebook’s numbers). Anonymous acknowledges as much in the video below, which takes more of a persuasive angle than its other messages, as in: “One day you will look back on this and realise what we have done here is right, you will thank the rulers of the Internet, we are not harming you but saving you.”

(By the way, the fifth of November is Guy Fawkes Day, in commemoration of the night in 1605 that Fawkes tried to blow up the British Parliament. Anonymous supporters sometimes don Guy Fawkes masks as seen in the movie “V for Vendetta,” and the comic book series it was based on.)  —PZS

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By ejes, August 25, 2011 at 10:44 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

it’s funny actually, if they’re predicting this, it’s
likely that they already know HOW they’re going to do
it - maybe they’ve already infiltrated fb, and are just
waiting to detonate their logic bomb.

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By appeltaart, August 25, 2011 at 7:50 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

all facebook knows about you is what you tell them.
I agree that a lot of people are stupid and post sensitive or just too much personal information on facebook
but you can’t really blame facebook for stupid people.

though other people can upload pictures and stuff of you to, something which is a bit weird and potentially worrying

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By not you, August 22, 2011 at 12:06 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

people can change info on facebook profile to opposite of who they are and like a bunch of things they dont and then use the delete account option.

Add some wild pictures for more effect.

why get violent when you can have a little fun with the problem?

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By ryan, August 21, 2011 at 9:59 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

The video link went down, also, not the best plan ever.  Facebook isn’t just something that can be “taken down”

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By Minus, August 21, 2011 at 7:25 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

Video removed :(

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By Clutch2Bone, August 19, 2011 at 6:57 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

Please kill mine first, I hate that website.

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By anon, August 19, 2011 at 3:29 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

This is a fake one ... Anon’s ain’t gonna attack facebook ( it’s almost their only method to spread out their message so why would they kill facebook ? )


To press ... #OpFacebook is just another fake! We don’t ‘kill’ the messenger. That’s not our style,”

“#OpFacebook is being organised by some Anons. This does not necessarily mean that all of #Anonymous agrees with it.”
source :  http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2390805,00.asp

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Napolean DoneHisPart's avatar

By Napolean DoneHisPart, August 11, 2011 at 8:15 pm Link to this comment

I second grumpynyker’s point: why not dismantle the FED, Congress shills and their pensions, and the U.S. Military Dictatorship’s corporate block of war-making machinery?

Yes, Suckerberg is a sneaky little red-headed son of darkness, what else is new, but disabling FB for sneaky for-profit corporate antics and not realizing that most of the high crimes of the hegemony and dictatorship have been exposed via FB!

I wonder if Anonymous isn’t just another CIA construct which is sifting all descenders one by one… as soon as they break a law, which is getting easier by the day with all the laws the CONgress passes each year.

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Psychobabbler's avatar

By Psychobabbler, August 11, 2011 at 7:14 pm Link to this comment

If I had known that my “profile” was going to be property of Facebook to be sold without my permission, I would have never made one. And knowing now that I cannot opt out really upsets me. If they can successfully accomplish this I would really appreciate it. Facebook deserves to be punished for their trickery.

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By Mike0301, August 11, 2011 at 1:04 pm Link to this comment

Nah, When Anon first began, it had significant support because it was directed
toward a truly smarmy organization, Scientology.  The support it had has been
eroded by the hit and miss tactics of going after disparate website of government,
corporations and now this (barely credible) threat at FaceBook.
The group was effective when it had a single mission and purpose most people
could either support OR not disapprove of.  Unfortunately the thrust of the
‘movement’ has splintered. 
Yes, I understand there is no central governance.  This is what made Anon
appealing, people w/ one thing in common, taking down a secretive, abusive,
litigious organization hiding behind the rubric of religion.
Had the campaign continued, it could have accomplished a good purpose, exposing
the Scientology cult to the sunshine of public scrutiny.  Anonymous (as a brand) is
probably viewed in the same context and those they wish to destroy: secretive,
unpredictable, truculent, blustering dysfunctional children who have consigned
themselves, through their own actions to society’s dustbin.  They’ll raise their heads
periodically, only to be swatted down with a rolled newspaper

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PatrickHenry's avatar

By PatrickHenry, August 11, 2011 at 8:06 am Link to this comment

What can I do to help?

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By Theo, August 11, 2011 at 7:59 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

The video is a month old and was posted from an account with no prior association with Anonymous.  There has been no statements from Anonymous since the video was posted indicating an intention of attacking facebook, nor has there been chatter on Anon message boards regarding the idea.

Anyone can claim to be Anonymous.
Anyone can post a video on youtube.
This should be assumed to be a hoax until and unless the larger Anonymous collective indicates otherwise.

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By gerard, August 10, 2011 at 3:45 pm Link to this comment

Again, opening up government-corporate
secrecy that keeps the public ignorant is quite probably healthy for democracy, and announcement ahead of time also works toward openness.
What I seriously question is the element of threat that Anonymous is prone to use.  Threat encourages fear, and fear easily morphs into anger, followed by the desire for retribution. 
  Such a sequence of events is not compatible with the non-violent aims that Anonymous professes to uphold, IMO, because right from the beginning, it sets the stage for conflict.  I hope Anonymous will see fit to drop the “nyaa-nyaa” quality as I believe that to do so would strengthen the value of what they are doing.

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By thethirdman, August 10, 2011 at 1:26 pm Link to this comment

I don’t want to sound too kooky, but do you think it’s possible that a government
agency would release this video in an attempt to discredit Anonymous in the eyes
of those who might be most supportive?

At times, the gov dismisses Anonymous as nothing more than a teenage pest.  At
other times, the gov seems to be a little worried about their capabilities.  It
wouldn’t be that far of stretch…

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By Aquifer, August 10, 2011 at 11:25 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

Interesting - the page referred to in the link provided by “anonymousfacebook” 8/9 @7:37PM has apparently disappeared - “cannot be found”

Hmmm ...

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John R.'s avatar

By John R., August 10, 2011 at 11:04 am Link to this comment

Whom posted this video on youtube?

There is no spokesperson, no leader, no organization, as far as anyone knows,
regarding the anonymous group. This has been stated time and again. Anyone
thats ever looked into anonymous already knows this, and now, so do you.

Those that I know of, and are in support of anonymous, are in fact grateful that
Facebook exists. We post information about atrocities committed, and where
protesting should take place - regardless of corporation monitoring on
Facebook.

Fact: Facebook stood up for Wikileaks choosing not to delete they’re account,
even under pressure from the U.S. government.

And that information door swings both ways. Facebook also lets us know whom
is seeking private information about individuals.

This is a key identifier, of whom, is gathering information and for what
purpose.

Facebook is a good thing for all of us, even if we are bombarded by those silly
games.

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By HeathenAngel, August 10, 2011 at 10:59 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

I sincerely hope this is a joke. If not, Anonymous will be making enemies of those that they have endeared to them with their attacks on the deserving. A social network is hardly a valid target for this group who, fwiw seeks to “right the wrongs”. Facebook is nothing of the sort.

And to the tinfoil-hat wearing wing-nut(s) who thinks this is somehow related to President Obama or anyone in Washington… keep an eye out for those blackhawk helicopters. I’m sure they’ll be landing in your back yard any minute. Seriously, join the real world, will ya? Reality is a much better place than the conspiracy-theory-fantasy in which you apparently reside.

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By Roxii Love, August 10, 2011 at 10:06 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

ATTENTION!! LAME-STREAM MEDIA NEWS IS LYING TO YOU.. FACEBOOK WILL NOT BE ATTACKED BY ANONYMOUS. IT’S NOT A MISSION ON ANONS SITE. SPREAD THE WORD AND EXPOSE THE AGENDA. OABAM ADMINISTRATION HAS LONG WANTED TO SHUT DOWN FACEBOOK AND ALWAYS LOOK TO BLAME OTHERS FOR THEIR ACTIONS. THIS IS A GOVT FUNDED NEWS LIE.

MAKE THIS VIRAL

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/facebook/anonymous-does-not-support-killing-facebook-on-november-5/2450

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Queenie's avatar

By Queenie, August 10, 2011 at 7:34 am Link to this comment

Seth:

Google “news” at least. What a bunch of garbage.

As far as taking down Facebook? Go for it!

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By diman, August 10, 2011 at 5:25 am Link to this comment

Finally somebody will grow the balls to do it, I’m all for it.

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By grumpynyker, August 10, 2011 at 5:05 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

Methinks that Anonymous(aka CIA-Barry Soetero’s Alma mater) is either full of bat-squeeze since they won’t go after the computer systems of Wall Street investment/hedge funds,the Federal Reserve,K Street, the pensions of Congresspeople,etc.

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By lcandell, August 10, 2011 at 4:05 am Link to this comment

I hope they succeed.

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Robespierre115's avatar

By Robespierre115, August 10, 2011 at 1:49 am Link to this comment

Doesn’t this go against Anonymous’s own neo-anarchist philosophy? Who has asked them to shut down Facebook? It’s not very democratic to shut down a social networking site without consulting the non-corporate, civilian members who use it and use it a lot to protest.

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blogdog's avatar

By blogdog, August 10, 2011 at 1:03 am Link to this comment

the nature of modern-techno life calls for their necessity… ergo, expect them

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By brianrouth, August 9, 2011 at 11:35 pm Link to this comment

Bollocks to them…...they should butt out and not try to take this stupid high road
of higher morals and preach to us….who the fuck do they think they are??.......it’s
controlling and pathetic!!!

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By Seth, August 9, 2011 at 11:34 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

I wish they would take down Google. They are definitely the bigger problem. Too big!

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By thethirdman, August 9, 2011 at 10:25 pm Link to this comment

I call bluff

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By Zadoc, August 9, 2011 at 10:14 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

Just by virtue of the fact that these guys announced
their plans ahead of time makes it completely stupid.
POLL: Will Anonymous be able to take out Facebook on
November 5th?
Vote: http://www.wepolls.com/p/1769612

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By needless things, August 9, 2011 at 9:46 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

Please oh please, bring this tripe to its eternal demise.

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By DBCOOPER, August 9, 2011 at 9:23 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

go anonymous!

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no mans land's avatar

By no mans land, August 9, 2011 at 8:55 pm Link to this comment

Makes me wish I was a hacker…

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By George, August 9, 2011 at 7:38 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

Actually, I think this may be a case of throwing the baby out with the bath.  I don’t know what Anonymous is planning, but if they are going to take down people’s ability to network socially, then they are also taking down our ability to organize a resistance.  Take a look at how revolution got started in Egypt and you will see, social networks are powerful tools for collaborative resistance.

Far more imaginative and effective would be an attack that targets FB’s ability to collect and store user data, while leaving the functionality most people use and appreciate alone.

Anonymous, if you’re listening, that is a challenge for your skill!

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By anonymousfacebook, August 9, 2011 at 7:37 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

Watch the actual video here…

http://www.lordandme.com/2011/08/facebook-is-going-
down-anonymous-video.html

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