Greetings. We are Anonymous. A lot has been said over the last few days, however, not all of it is fair or accurate. We would like to set the record straight. Anonymous is not unanimous. We use the internet as a tool to congregate, communicate, and articulate; but we speak with many different voices, in many different places, and it is only the Internet that connects us. As the net has evolved, so have we and our methods.
We are now in the digital age. In the 21st century, technology allows states to be more intrusive than ever, and governments are making the most of these new abilities. In recent years we have witnessed intrusions on privacy that would have been dismissed as dystopian only a few decades ago. Left unchecked by democratic control, and unconstrained by national sovereignty or respect for fundamental human values, the legitimate actions of corporations or governments can easily turn into abuse.
Yet the same tools that facilitate these actions provide us with the ability to fight back and safeguard our rights as citizens. It also gives us the power to expose crime, corruption and government abuse that would otherwise remain hidden. Our campaign to support WikiLeaks is not petty vandalism. We do not seek to cause harm for harm’s sake or to cause undue or unnecessary damage to the companies we have taken issue with. Our sole aim is to promote the values of a democratic society for the benefit of all.
If you believe in free expression, a free press, and most of all, a free internet, then you too are Anonymous. Our adversaries should question neither our dedication nor our resolve. We are determined to continue the struggle for as long as necessary to achieve our goal.
WHO WE ARE
We are not ‘hackers’. We are not criminals. We are not terrorists. We are not digital vandals to be vilified, nor caped heroes to be lauded. We are everyday citizens, common men and women of a digital world concerned with protecting basic freedoms. In short, we are you, we are your sons and daughters, your brothers and sisters, your friends and co-workers. Our ranks are made of individuals from many nations and races, unified by digital camaraderie and the knowledge that we fight for the good of the whole and not the greed of the few. Anonymous is the voice of those who believe in truth, liberty and the freedom of expression. Anonymous believes that it is the small actions of a unified whole that make a difference. Freedom of speech does not fall along national or party lines. We are faceless and nameless, separate yet struggling together for a common cause. We ask you to support us, not for our sake, but for your own. Do not allow governments, corporations, or anyone else to control what you are allowed to see, hear, and think. Censorship will not be tolerated.
ON WIKILEAKS
A conglomerate of states and global corporations is trying to destroy or silence WikiLeaks. They portray their actions as innocuous, or justify them with dubious appeals to the national interest; on the contrary, the suppression of free speech is harmful to every nation, and every human being. Any institution that seeks to blockade, disrupt or attack WikiLeaks simultaneously attacks free speech, the free press, and other core democratic values. Furthermore, there is absolutely no evidence that any individual has come to any harm as a result of anything released by WikiLeaks, despite some governments’ assertions to the contrary. WikiLeaks is part of the press, and co-operates with renowned media partners as equals. WikiLeaks is a force of good in an increasingly interconnected world – it is our collective duty to protect their right to exist.
ON JULIAN ASSANGE
Julian Assange is the founder of WikiLeaks, and a campaigner for free speech. Unfortunately, Assange has become the target of political persecution and judicial prosecution. His dedication to the freedom of Information and open governance should serve as an example to everyone across the world.
OUR CAMPAIGN
To show our support and solidarity for the ideas behind WikiLeaks and extend our support beyond just mirroring, we started a campaign consisting of the following two steps:
1. Creating Public Interest for Anonymous with Operation Payback:
We used a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) campaign to draw attention to abuses of power and the criminalization of dissent. Some of us have participated in these attacks, and while we are aware of the severity of our actions, we believe they are in service of a greater good. Operation Payback aimed at those entities that have aided in the attempted censorship of WikiLeaks.The carefully chosen targets included Visa, Mastercard, Postfinance Switzerland, and PayPal. No payments or transaction services were hampered. These actions did no permanent damage or physical harm, they merely occupied bandwidth and system resources, acting as sit-in protestors of the digital era.
2. Spreading the Leaks – Operation Leakspin:
We are also working to promote the further dissemination of all WikiLeaks documents. By hosting thousands of mirrors of WikiLeaks and actively distributing all released materials for easy download, we are ensuring that this information will be read and analyzed by as many people as possible. Operation Leakspin uses the power of many eyes to scour the WikiLeaks cables for under- reported leaks and then publicize them for maximum exposure and effect.
OUR CAUSE
The Internet is a stronghold of freedom in an increasingly authoritarian world. It is capable of connecting and uniting all of humanity by lowering the barriers of language and distance. When we are connected, we are strong. When we are strong, we need not fear tyranny. Governments and corporations are moving against WikiLeaks because they fear our united global power; they fear our ability to demand truth and accountability. Do not forget this.
This is an critical moment for the fate of free speech in our ever-evolving, information-dependent society. These attacks on freedom of expression, if unchecked, will have negative implications for all of mankind. Our peaceful activism will focus on anyone who intends to infringe on the freedoms of speech, information, and expression, regardless of the power they wield. The entities that we campaign against are denying everyone a basic human right. Any person, corporation, government, or other entity that turns against this pattern of censorship, and instead starts promoting freedom of speech, will become our ally. Anonymous aims to educate our opponents rather than harm them; we are campaigning for freedom for everyone, even those who criticize and attack us. Anonymous urges the people of the world to join us against all forms of censorship, in defense of freedom both online and off. We exist in all societies, on the fringe and in the center. If you search, you will find us, all around you.
We are Anonymous.
We are the Internet.
We are Everywhere.
We are You.
DISTRIBUTION
We, Anonymous, the collective authors of the work “A Message From Anonymous” (2010), irrevocably renounce all current and future legal rights to the work in any medium whatsoever.
We stand behind the merit of the work, but disclaim all liability for it under law.
We encourage you, the audience, to share, copy, distribute, perform, remix, mash up, interpret, excerpt, translate, and otherwise enjoy and use the work as you will.
Digital versions of the work may be available at truthisrevolutionary.org. Learn more at pleasepirate.org.
Source:
Quality Control 
