Anonymous fights Internet censorship and wins. Pressure from the international Internet hacktivist collective known as Anonymous has forced the EU to suspend their efforts to ratify ACTA, the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement.
On Wednesday, the European Commission suspended efforts to ratify the new international anti-counterfeiting agreement known as ACTA. Critics claim ACTA is a draconian measure that would effectively end freedom of the Internet, and fundamentally change the Internet as we know it.
The commission’s choice to suspend efforts to ratify ACTA is seen by many as a direct result of a relentless campaign directed by Anonymous hacktivists both in the streets of Europe and on the Internet.
Last Friday, the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) was victimized in an anti-ACTA action by AntiSec, an elite hacktivist crew associated with Anonymous. In explaining and justifying the FTC hack, AntiSec warned of a “war that [will] rain torrential hellfire down on all enemies of free speech, privacy and Internet freedom” if ACTA is signed into law.
Last month, members of the Polish Parliament donned Guy Fawkes masks to register their opposition to ACTA, the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement. The Guy Fawkes mask is the unofficial trademark of Anonymous. Such a demonstration illustrates the power and prominence of Anonymous in the anti-ACTA movement.
While Wednesday’s news represents a significant victory for Anonymous, and the forces opposed to ACTA, the battle is far from over. The commission’s choice to suspend efforts to ratify ACTA is not in itself an end to ACTA. Instead, ACTA is being referred to Europe's highest court to see whether it violates any fundamental EU rights.
Nevertheless, the decision to suspend attempts to ratify ACTA represents a significant victory for Anonymous, and forces favoring a free and open Internet.
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