Unclear To Me As Well
Oct. 7th, 2004 11:25 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
arisbeThursday morning, US authorities issued a federal order to Rackspace ordering them to hand over Indymedia web servers to the requesting agency. Rackspace, which provides hosting services for more that 20 Indymedia sites at its London facility, complied and turned over the requested servers, effectively removing those sites from the internet.
Since the subpoena was issued to Rackspace and not to Indymedia, the reasons for this action are still unknown to Indymedia. Talking to Indymedia volunteers, Rackspace stated that "they cannot provide Indymedia with any information regarding the order." ISPs have received gag orders in similar situations which prevent them from updating the concerned parties on what is happening.
It is unclear to Indymedia how and why a server that is outside the US jurisdiction can be seized by US authorities.
At the same time an additional server was taken down at Rackspace which provided streaming radio to several radio stations, BLAG (linux distro), and a handful of miscellanous things.
The last few months have seen numerous attacks on independent media by the US Federal Government. In August the Secret Service used a subpoena in an attempt to disrupt the NYC IMC before the RNC by trying to get IP logs from an ISP in the US and the Netherlands. Last month the FCC shut down community radio stations around the US. Two weeks ago the FBI requested that Indymedia takes down a post on the Nantes IMC that had a photo of some undercover Swiss police and IMC volunteers in Seattle were visited by the FBI on the same issue. On the other hand, Indymedia and other independent media organisations were successfull with their victories for example against Diebold and the Patroit Act. Today however, the US authorities shut down IMCs around the world.
The list of affected local media collectives includes Ambazonia, Uruguay, Andorra, Poland, Western Massachusetts, Nice, Nantes, Lilles, Marseille (all France), Euskal Herria (Basque Country), Liege, East and West Vlaanderen, Antwerpen (all Belgium), Belgrade, Portugal, Prague, Galiza, Italy, Brazil, UK, part of the Germany site, and the global Indymedia Radio site.
Since the subpoena was issued to Rackspace and not to Indymedia, the reasons for this action are still unknown to Indymedia. Talking to Indymedia volunteers, Rackspace stated that "they cannot provide Indymedia with any information regarding the order." ISPs have received gag orders in similar situations which prevent them from updating the concerned parties on what is happening.
It is unclear to Indymedia how and why a server that is outside the US jurisdiction can be seized by US authorities.
At the same time an additional server was taken down at Rackspace which provided streaming radio to several radio stations, BLAG (linux distro), and a handful of miscellanous things.
The last few months have seen numerous attacks on independent media by the US Federal Government. In August the Secret Service used a subpoena in an attempt to disrupt the NYC IMC before the RNC by trying to get IP logs from an ISP in the US and the Netherlands. Last month the FCC shut down community radio stations around the US. Two weeks ago the FBI requested that Indymedia takes down a post on the Nantes IMC that had a photo of some undercover Swiss police and IMC volunteers in Seattle were visited by the FBI on the same issue. On the other hand, Indymedia and other independent media organisations were successfull with their victories for example against Diebold and the Patroit Act. Today however, the US authorities shut down IMCs around the world.
The list of affected local media collectives includes Ambazonia, Uruguay, Andorra, Poland, Western Massachusetts, Nice, Nantes, Lilles, Marseille (all France), Euskal Herria (Basque Country), Liege, East and West Vlaanderen, Antwerpen (all Belgium), Belgrade, Portugal, Prague, Galiza, Italy, Brazil, UK, part of the Germany site, and the global Indymedia Radio site.
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no subject
Date: 2004-10-08 03:48 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-10-08 04:49 am (UTC)This is a disturbing development. What's next?
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Date: 2004-10-08 06:25 am (UTC)Here is the link to Indymedia, which has the post word for word on their front page.
Technically, this is not a new thing. The FBI has a history of grabbing any computers they suspect have dangerous information on it. This even applied to Steve Jackson Games, when they were preparing to release GURPS Cyberpunk.
Usually, this stuff is a mistake or an overreaction. The Media is never returned, and as far as I know, the FBI rarely appologize.
It is unclear if this is an attack on free speech, or if they are persuing an actual criminal enterprise.
In eithercase, the FBI does not have jurisdiction in Britian, but Britian might allow the FBI to investigate inside their borders without interfering.
So, while I am not going to panic over this, I'll need to see more evidence that they are grabbing a LOT of computers before I belive that this is more then a wild goose hunt.
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Date: 2004-10-08 11:51 am (UTC)How eagerly is Tony ("the Poodle") Blair humping Baby Bush's leg these days?
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Date: 2004-10-08 02:14 pm (UTC)Ever since WWI, there has been a great raport between Britian and America. We have saved their butts in a couple of wars, and all anamosity between our two nations has dissappeared. It's funny what a common language does over time. None the less, if it had been any president, they probably would have had permission to go in, as it is commonly percieved what is good for the Isles is good for the US, and visa versa. It's only our streak of stubborness that refuses to give back in to Congressional Monarchy, ya know? :'D
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I assume you mean "Constitutional" monarchy.
A substantial fraction of the population, however, doesn't seem to mind the idea of an absolute monarchy, however, and the loopiest members of this group even endorse something suspiciously similar to the divine right of kings.
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Date: 2004-10-08 11:24 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-10-08 11:48 am (UTC)The Republican Party obviously needs to take special precautions to protect its delegates from persecution by shielding their identities. Perhaps they ought to cover their faces when they go out in public on official party business with hoods. Pointed white hoods.
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Date: 2004-10-08 11:57 am (UTC)Imagine my surprise when a bus pulled up next to me, and delegates started pouring out. (I held my contempt in check -- I simply stood there with my anti-Bush button on sadly shaking my head at them... not one of them met my eyes...)
For those interested, the list can still be downloaded from the NYC Indymedia server at http://images.indymedia.org/imc/nyc/application/5/list-0404-12-08-2004.csv
Of course, their logs will probably be seized along with their computers in the next day or so...
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Date: 2004-10-08 12:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-10-09 12:58 am (UTC)With luck and hard work, this fit of international seizure could be the last hurrah of the Patriot Act.
no subject
Date: 2004-10-09 05:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-10-10 06:39 am (UTC)But anyway. Though I am not fond enough of either of the candidates, I will certainly be voting for Kerry because I hate bush more. I'm tired of the witch-hunt mentality he inspires.