Official Turkish websites attacked by ‘cyber guerillas’
Official Turkish websites attacked by ‘cyber guerillas’
Targeting the AKP government which is preparing to implement a filter on internet on Aug. 22 on the grounds of protecting the youth from "harmful elements on the web”, internet vigilante group Anonymous started their act against the restriction of a basic human right to access information. The website of the Information and Communication Technologies Authority, responsible for the plan, has been attacked for several hours for two days.
Anonymous, as it had previously announced and warned, went into action at 18.00 yesterday against Turkish government and state institutions. Despite eight various measures taken by Turkish government, the attack on the Information and Communication Technologies Authority couldn’t be prevented. The page couldn’t give service for some time yesterday at the end of the shift.
While authorities worked to limit the disruption, other sites were also blocked including those related to social security, meteorology and several telecoms-related sites.
On the other hand, Anonymous, announced that they don’t intend to block Turkey’s internet or to attack the Supreme Election Board as asserted, adding that such assertions are made up by state officials who can’t protect the websites of their institutions. Anonymous expressed that these statements intend to create a misperceive in the public eye against the movement, while the assertors in reality themselves disrupt the internet access.
Anonymous, warning Turkish people not to believe in groundless conspiracy theories and delusions, made the following statement;
“To the citizens of Turkey.
We are Anonymous.
Over the last few years, we have witnessed the censorship taken by the Turkish government, such as blocking YouTube, Rapidshare, Fileserve and thousands of other websites. Most recently, the government banned access to Google services.
These acts of censorship are inexcusable. The internet is a platform for freedom, a place where anyone and everyone can come together, discuss topics, and share information, without the fear of government interference.
We, Anonymous, will not stand by and let this go unnoticed. We will fight with the Turkish people against their government's rain of censorship.
Citizens of Turkey, Anonymous now fights with you.
We do not forgive, we do not forget.
Turkish Government,
Expect us.”
Translation: Berna Ozgencil
Anonymous, as it had previously announced and warned, went into action at 18.00 yesterday against Turkish government and state institutions. Despite eight various measures taken by Turkish government, the attack on the Information and Communication Technologies Authority couldn’t be prevented. The page couldn’t give service for some time yesterday at the end of the shift.
While authorities worked to limit the disruption, other sites were also blocked including those related to social security, meteorology and several telecoms-related sites.
On the other hand, Anonymous, announced that they don’t intend to block Turkey’s internet or to attack the Supreme Election Board as asserted, adding that such assertions are made up by state officials who can’t protect the websites of their institutions. Anonymous expressed that these statements intend to create a misperceive in the public eye against the movement, while the assertors in reality themselves disrupt the internet access.
Anonymous, warning Turkish people not to believe in groundless conspiracy theories and delusions, made the following statement;
“To the citizens of Turkey.
We are Anonymous.
Over the last few years, we have witnessed the censorship taken by the Turkish government, such as blocking YouTube, Rapidshare, Fileserve and thousands of other websites. Most recently, the government banned access to Google services.
These acts of censorship are inexcusable. The internet is a platform for freedom, a place where anyone and everyone can come together, discuss topics, and share information, without the fear of government interference.
We, Anonymous, will not stand by and let this go unnoticed. We will fight with the Turkish people against their government's rain of censorship.
Citizens of Turkey, Anonymous now fights with you.
We do not forgive, we do not forget.
Turkish Government,
Expect us.”
Translation: Berna Ozgencil
