A video posted yesterday from online activist group Anonymous claims that they plan to target Sony for supporting the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA).
The controversial act would give the US government and copyright holders a very wide range of powers for finding and convicting anyone guilty of illegal downloading and digital copyright fraud. As some of the internet's most infamous open source advocates, it shouldn't come as a surprise that Anonymous would attack organizations for supporting the bill.
Earlier this year, hackers from Anonymous broke into and stole personal information from Playstation Network in response to Sony's lawsuit against hacker George Hotz, who developed software to "jailbreak" the PS3.
Here's a transcript of the message from the most recent video:
"Hello, SONY.
We are Anonymous.
It has come to the attention of the Anonymous activist community that you have chosen to stand by the Stop Online Piracy Act. This act will halt online businesses and restrict access to many sites for many users. Supporting SOPA is like trying to throw an entire company from off a bridge. Your support to the act is a signed death warrant to SONY Company and Associates. Therefore, yet again, we have decided to destroy your network. We will dismantle your phantom from the internet. Prepare to be extinguished. Justice will be swift, and it will be for the people, whether some like it or not. Sony, you have been warned.
To those doubting our powers. We've infiltrated the servers of Bank of America, The United States Department of Defense, The United Nations, and Lockheed Martin. In one day.
For their approval to SOPA, we have also declared that our fury be brought upon the following persons. Justin Bieber. Lady Gaga. Kim Kardashian. and Taylor Swift.
Operation Blackout, engaged.
Operation Mayhem, engaged.
Operation LulzXmas, engaged.
We are Anonymous.
We are Legion.
We do not forgive.
We do not forget.
Supporters of SOPA, you should've expected us."
The personal attacks on celebrities seems, quite frankly, a bit silly, especially as part of a statement condemning a large corporation. Still, it does get the message across. Anonymous does not like SOPA: If you SOPA, Anonymous does not like you.
