FBI took the hard drives of Indymedia servers in the USA and the UK

[Zonk]

FBI took the hard drives of IMC servers in the USA and the UK
FBI took the hard drives of IMC servers in the USA and the UK
07 Oct 2004 18:10 GMT

The FBI issued an order to Rackspace (Indymedia's provider with offices in the US and London) to remove physically our server. The order was so short term that Rackspace had to give away our hard drives in the UK.
The servers hosted numerous local IMCs. If you find a site is down: that might be the reason

The reason why the hard drives were taken are unknown.


from www.indymedia.org (http://www.indymedia.org/)

[Zonk]

:p Indymedia UK replacement now up on http://www.indymedia.org/img/extlink.gif http://uk.indymedia.org/ (http://uk.indymedia.org/) till something better is found.

Fuck the Feds!

[backtothelab]

any particular reason why?

[Zonk]

any particular reason why?
http://www.indymedia.org/en/2004/10/111987.shtml

[Paul]

I know it might sound ultra paranoid of me ... but maybe now is the right time for people like us (people who are publically open about their anti-establishment stance) to start using file encryption software on their computers and email.

Sometimes I think that even using my real name as my ID on here was a bad move

[Smartie.uk]

"...So this is about Swiss police, on a French site, on a server in England, taken away by American federal police... can I be the first to say WTF?!"

yeah... can i be the second... WTF!!!

[Ellie-Rose]

..and that muh dears is why you should keep your identity shtum!!!

[Zonk]

..and that muh dears is why you should keep your identity shtum!!!
And as for all this posting ya pics up everywhere....I don't know!:p

[Zonk]

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/10/298744.html

[Ellie-Rose]

And as for all this posting ya pics up everywhere....I don't know!:p
Damnit!! ;)

[Zonk]

They're on to you Ellie-Rose!

Leg it!!:p

[cobcottage]

That's so crazy! Interesting that they will conduct an investigation on people who are naming delegates but when the Freepers make lists of liberals; oh thats okay.

[Zonk]

IMC servers in EU Parliament

Anita, 11.10.2004 08:34

Flemish MEP Bart Staes (Groen!) will raise the confiscation of the IMC servers on the European Parliament later today.

On Sunday 10 Oct. a member of the IMC East-Flanders was contacted by MEP Staes. The Flkemish ecologists are apparently planning to raise the matter in todays sitting of the EU Parliament, according to a report posted earlier today on Indymedia NL.

IMC Belgium is carrying a report to the extent that Belgian MP Stijn Bex (Spirit) intends to pose questions on the matter to the Belgian foreign minister Karel de Gucht, including a request the minister raise the matter with his American, Swiss and French counterparts.

Four Belgian IMC's were hit by the theft of the servers.

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/10/298888.html

[Zonk]

Atlast it has hit the mainstream press..


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3732718.stm

[Claire]

A FBI spokesperson told the AFP news agency that it was not an FBI operation, saying the order had been issued at the request of Italian and Swiss authorities.

"Indymedia had been asked last month by the FBI to remove a story about Swiss undercover police from one of the websites hosted at Rackspace," said the group in a statement.

"It is not known, however, whether Thursday's order is related to that incident since the order was issued to Rackspace and not to Indymedia."

"The constitution does not permit the government unilaterally to cut off the speech of an independent media outlet, especially without providing a reason or even allowing Indymedia the information necessary to contest the seizure," said EFF Staff Attorney Kurt Opsahl.

hmmmm it's all decidedly fishy... I wonder what the article about the swiss police was?



p.s. It's the Indymedia 10 year bash on Saturday in London...

[Zonk]

A couple of photos of two 'undercover' cops at the last summit. They are still up if you hunt around. Dont want to post a link from here.;)

[Zonk]

Enduring Indymedia
An online instant-videogame based on Indymedia hard disks seizure.
Unidentified powers versus media activism. :)


http://www.molleindustria.it/

[Claire]

Critical Information has reached an unsustainable level... please play again:p

[Zonk]

Critical Information has reached an unsustainable level... please play again:p
I thought you were meant to be back at work this week Mrs?:H

[Zonk]

ACTION ALERT: Urgent Action In Support of Indymedia

"An unacceptable attack on press freedom, free speech and privacy."

On 7 October 2004 two Indymedia Web Servers were seized from the US-owned web hosting company Rackspace operating in London (UK), at the request of the US Justice Department, which apparently acted at the prompting of Italian and Swiss authorities.

Indymedia is an global alternative media network that provides challenging and independent reporting, particularly of political and social justice issues, with a newswire where any member of the public can publish their own reports and articles.

The seizure of the servers in London shut down around 20 different Indymedia websites including Ambazonia, Uruguay, Andorra, Poland, Western Massachusetts, Nice, Nantes, Lilles, Marseille, Euskal Herria (Basque Country), Liege, East and West Vlaanderen, Antwerpen (all Belgium), Belgrade, Portugal, Prague, Galiza, Italy, Brazil, UK, and parts of Germany Indymedia. Many are still offline, those few that have returned have suffered data loss.

The particular legal framework under which the seizures took place is unknown. Five Days after the seizures there is still an almost total information blackout from the authorities in the UK, US, Switzeland and Italy. Indymedia still has no confirmation of who ordered the seizures, who took the servers in London, why the seizures took place, where the servers are now located, and whether they will be returned.

We are concerned over the growing use of international co-operation frameworks by Governments and Law enforcement agencies which can be used to obscure clear legal process, and call for openness and clarity in international co-operation, to ensure due process and that civil liberties are protected.

Statements of support for Indymedia and condemnation of the shutting down of over 20 Media outlets have been recieved from The Electronic Frontier Foundation, The International Federation of Journalists, the National Union of Journalists, Reporters Without Borders, World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters and many other organisations.

Indymedia UK condemns the seizure of the servers as an unacceptable and unprecedented attack on press freedom, free speech and privacy and asks for urgent solidarity action in demanding:



RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Please write to the British Home Secretary and the US Attorney General:

1. Expressing grave concern at the action taken against Indymedia.

2. Demanding the immediate return of the servers to Indymedia with all data intact.

3. Requesting a full investigation into the circumstances and legality of the action taken to seize the Indymedia servers and to close Indymedia websites, with the disclosure of the names of the organisations and individuals involved in the seizure.



APPEALS TO:

Rt Hon David Blunkett MP
Home Secretary
The Home Office
London - UK
Email: public.enquiries@homeoffice.gsi.govSTOPSPAM.uk (public.enquiries@homeoffice.gsi.govSTOPSPAM.uk)

John Ashcroft
Attorney General
US Department of Justice
Washington - USA
Email: askdoj@usdojSTOPSPAM.gov (askdoj@usdojSTOPSPAM.gov)

Please send copies of letters to: imc-uk-contact@lists.indymediaSTOPSPAM.org (imc-uk-contact@lists.indymediaSTOPSPAM.org)

Organisations and individuals are also encouraged to issue their own statements in support of Indymedia and against the seizure of the servers. Please send copies to: imc-uk-contact@lists.indymediaSTOPSPAM.org (imc-uk-contact@lists.indymediaSTOPSPAM.org)

Additionaly organisations and indivduals can add their statements of support here:
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/10/298931.html (http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/10/298931.html) For background on the Server Seizures see:
http://indymedia.org/en/static/fbi (http://indymedia.org/en/static/fbi)
http://www.indymedia.org (http://www.indymedia.org/)
http://www.indymedia.org.uk (http://www.indymedia.org.uk/)

[Zonk]

Indymedia server grab - Home Office knew, but isn't telling

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/11/04/indymedia_flint_nondenial/

[Mr Iceman]

everything is monitored by the gov. BIG BROV monitors ALL comunications they have small monitoring stations all over the UK. my local one is disguised as a warehouse and distribution company, But it engineers racal or something like that are in and out all the time an the odd BT van cameras all over the place and an emergancy generator about 30 foot by 10 foot outside the place. they have a big one under York railway station....so if you are monitoring this UP YOURS BIG BROTHER.. the higher you build your bariers, the taller we become---the further you take our rights away the faster we will run. for we will fight for what is right and bring to the fro our struggle, our plight. one people, one planet let us all UNITE

[Claire]

everything is monitored by the gov. BIG BROV monitors ALL comunications they have small monitoring stations all over the UK. my local one is disguised as a warehouse and distribution company, But it engineers racal or something like that are in and out all the time an the odd BT van cameras all over the place and an emergancy generator about 30 foot by 10 foot outside the place. they have a big one under York railway station....so if you are monitoring this UP YOURS BIG BROTHER.. the higher you build your bariers, the taller we become---the further you take our rights away the faster we will run. for we will fight for what is right and bring to the fro our struggle, our plight. one people, one planet let us all UNITE
you may be interested in the HUMANCOLLECTIVE;)

more details to come:p

Love Clairexxx

[Paul]

you may be interested in the HUMANCOLLECTIVE;)

more details to come:p

Love Clairexxx
Well I guess that's one way of forcing a decision :p

[Claire]

Well I guess that's one way of forcing a decision :p
Sowwy:& Didn't think:eek:

I am not forceful.... just dizzy:p

[Mr Iceman]

Sowwy:& Didn't think:eek:

I am not forceful.... just dizzy:p
you can be as forceful as you want with me clairehttp://www.hipforums.com/forums/images/icons/newicons/icon6.gifhttp://www.hipforums.com/forums/images/icons/newicons/icon19.gif

[Claire]

you can be as forceful as you want with me clairehttp://www.hipforums.com/forums/images/icons/newicons/icon6.gifhttp://www.hipforums.com/forums/images/icons/newicons/icon19.gifAhhh... you have to become a "hipforums supporter" for that kinda treatment:p

[whispers]

Ahhh... you have to become a "hipforums supporter" for that kinda treatment:p

....................**erased**

[Mr Iceman]

Ahhh... you have to become a "hipforums supporter" for that kinda treatment:pnow you have given me something to aim for in life, a reason for living

[Mr Iceman]

forum life life will never be the same again ....lol