- To: chaos-update@lists.ccc.de
- Subject: Infopeace: Statement gegen die LoU Kriegserklaerung
- From: Andy Mueller-Maguhn <andy@ccc.de>
- Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1999 14:42:32 +0100
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* FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE *
LoU STRIKE OUT WITH INTERNATIONAL COALITION OF HACKERS:
A JOINT STATEMENT BY 2600, THE CHAOS COMPUTER CLUB, THE CULT OF THE DEAD
COW, !HISPAHACK, L0PHT HEAVY INDUSTRIES, PHRACK AND PULHAS
Date: 7.1.1999
Press Contacts:
2600: Emmanuel Goldstein, +1 516 751 2600, extension 0
Chaos Computer Club: Frank Rieger, frank@ccc.de
Cult of the Dead Cow: press@cultdeadcow.com
!Hispahack: mentesinquietas@iname.com
L0pht Heavy Industries: press@l0pht.com
Phrack: route@infonexus.com
Pulhas: monolith@p.ulh.as
An international coalition of hackers strongly condemns the Legion of
the Underground's (LoU) recent "declaration of war" against the
governments of Iraq and the People's Republic of China. Citing human
rights violations and other repressive measures the LoU declared their
intention to disrupt and disable Internet infrastructures in Iraq and
China. In a decision that was more rash than wise, the LoU will do
little to alter existing conditions and much to endanger the rights of
hackers around the world.
We - the undersigned - strongly oppose any attempt to use the power of
hacking to threaten or destroy the information infrastructure of a
country, for any reason. Declaring "war" against a country is the most
irresponsible thing a hacker group could do. This has nothing to do with
hacktivism or hacker ethics and is nothing a hacker could be proud of.
Frank Rieger of the CCC said, "Many hacker groups don't have a problem
with Web hacks that raise public awareness about human rights
violations. But we are very sensitive to people damaging networks and
critical systems in repressive regimes or anywhere else. The police and
intelligence communities regard hacking as seditious. It is quite
possible now that hackers - not only in totalitarian states - could be
jailed or executed as 'cyberterrorists' for the slightest infraction of
the law."
"It is shortsighted and potentially counterproductive," added Reid
Fleming of the cDc. "One cannot legitimately hope to improve a nation's
free access to information by working to disable its data networks."
"Though we may agree with LoU that the atrocities in China and Iraq have
got to stop, we do not agree with the methods they are advocating," said
Space Rogue of the L0pht.
Emmanuel Goldstein of 2600 said: "This kind of threat, even if made
idly, can only serve to further alienate hackers from mainstream
society and help to spread the misperceptions we're constantly
battling. And what happens when someone in another country decides
that the United States needs to be punished for its human rights
record? This is one door that will be very hard to close if we allow
it to be opened."
Governments worldwide are seeking to establish cyberspace as a new
battleground for their artificial conflicts. The LoU has inadvertently
legitimized this alarmist propoganda. With its dramatic announcement the
LoU played into the hands of policy makers who want complete control
over the Internet and are looking for reasons to seize it. If hackers
solicit recognition as paramilitary factions then hacking in general
will be seen as an act of war. Ergo, hackers will be viewed as
legitimate targets of warring states.
Strategic combat planning in the United States and among other nations
has reached the point where real-world cases are needed to justify
assigned budgets. The LoU is providing this real-world case now. We
believe that the LoU should carefully investigate the idea of declaring
"war" against China and Iraq. Was it planted with them by someone with
different interests in mind other than advancing human rights
considerations?
The signatories to this statement are asking hackers to reject all
actions that seek to damage the information infrastructure of any
country. DO NOT support any acts of "Cyberwar." Keep the networks of
communication alive. They are the nervous system for human progress.
Signed (7.1.1999):
2600 (http://www.2600.com)
Chaos Computer Club (http://www.ccc.de)
Cult of the Dead Cow (http://www.cultdeadcow.com)
!Hispahack (http://hispahack.ccc.de)
L0pht (http://www.l0pht.com)
Phrack (http://www.phrack.com)
Pulhas (http://p.ulh.as/)
Several members of the Dutch Hackers Community
(contact Rop Gonggrijp, rop@xs4all.nll)
Toxyn (http://www.toxyn.org/)
Supporting documents:
http://www.hackernews.com/archive.html?122998.html
- The original declaration of war by LoU