Darkness at Noon

Yesterday the online activist group Anonymous brought down the Prime Minister’s website, as well as the Australian Communications and Media Authority’s website and attempted to bring down Stephen Conroy’s website using Denial of Server attacks which bombard a website with requests until it breaks. This action was taken in response to the proposed internet filter.

I’m not sure what I think about this.

I find the idea of the filtering the internet abhorrent. It’s an issue close to me heart and it is both ideologically and technically flawed. I deeply resent the way the debate has been carried out by Conroy and I hope that it never gets up. I also support and encourage direct action.

Given these two things, surely I would support the actions of Anonymous but they make me feel uneasy for a few reasons. Firstly, they just come across as a little too anxty. This is inconsistent with my love of punk rock but the whole “we have been watching you” business just doesn’t rub well with me (see below for YouTube video). I think I’d be more comfortable with this if they were just doing it without all the song and dance.

The second thing is that I suspect that Conroy desperately wants to back away from the filter. It’s technically flawed (TOR anyone?) and the administration of it will be a nightmare. The trial will show that the filter is ineffective and slows the internet to an unacceptable level. However, actions such as this only serve to inflame the issue.

I think that, as an activist with both a strong civil libertarian perspective and a great believer in what the internet enables, it is important that the government is kept accountable on this issue. We need to be vigilant and keep the pressure on, but not so much pressure that the government is forced to go ahead with it anyway (which can happen).

I’m uneasy writing this post as well because I believe in the diversity of democracy. I think the Radical Vs Reformist debate in activist circle is troublesome and strongly believe that we need people undertaking a variety of political actions for a variety of reasons whether you support those reasons or not because it enhances our democracy and enables real social change.

What do you think? Is this action constructive in anyway?