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Scientology Uses DMCA to Delist Critic's Website

touretzky writes: "Scientology has used a DMCA threat to force removal of a large number of pages from xenu.net from the Google search engine. Some of the pages Scientology is objecting to contain no material owned by the cult; other pages are clearly covered under "fair use". Scientology's ongoing abuse of Google is documented here. Of course, the Norwegian owner of xenu.net could write a counternotification letter, but that would require him to agree to the jurisdiction of a US court in a district of Scientology's choosing." The posting by Heldal-Lund agrees with what we can observe at Google - the pages listed in the posting aren't in Google's database, though many others are. Update: 03/21 14:16 GMT by M : Paul Wouters of xtdnet.nl (which hosts xenu.net) submits this page documenting Scientology's attacks against the ISP for continuing to host xenu.net.

6 of 576 comments (clear)

  1. Scientology is worse than you think by lermanet · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If you were to breed the Ferengi with the Borg you would end up with Scientology.


    I am an ex member now considered an 'enemy' of scientology because my activities and statements interfere with the continued extraction of money from the targets of this scam.

    The Scientology program is optimized to extract money. One of the scientology program's subroutines tells the adherents to demonize their enemies, this is a pattern of conduct for fanatic extremist groups.

    Scientology maintains control of Tom Cruise, Jenna Elfman, John Travolta and the rest of their pretty faced minons by controlling the information they see. By surrounding them with scientology drones.

    Scientology's history of seeking gag agreements through burdensome litigation is just a means to an end. it is no more than another effort to control the information available.

    I posted the Fishman affidavit to alt.religion.scientology in 1995, and endured almost 2 million in scientology litigation and refused 3 cash offers to settle - because I refused to take the gag agreement that would prevent me from explaining to YOU how dangerous these crazy bastards are.

    To Scientology gag agreements are just the cost of doing business. Part of their effort to control the flow of information.

    Scientology's massive efforts to create zillions of domains pointing at their website is just another example of Information Control.

    The scientology spam and sporge on alt.religion.scientology is just informtion control.

    Totalitarian systems, like Stalinist communism or Scientology cannot survive when information is free.

    Scientology has been waging information warfare upon the web so that they might have a better chance to capture a few children's lives with their lies.

    Don't let Scientolgoy win the google war, help get the word out, cause Scientology is worse than you think

    Arnaldo Lerma [ an ex - member ] http://www.lermanet.com
    --
    Ferengi + Borg = Scientology
  2. Scientology = America's Al Qaida by Arcturax · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Really, take a look at Xenu.net and all the other pages out there which detail the stuff they do.

    Just like Al Qaida they:

    - Go after young impressionable people and turn them into zealots.
    - Have armed camps and compounds (See Gold Base)
    - Abuse the law and system as much as they can
    - Attack and threaten anyone who speaks out against them or tries to leave the organization
    - Meddle and infiltrate the government of their hosting countries. The Taliban in Afghanistan were also Al Qaida people to a large extent. The same is happening here, just look at the DA in California who went after Henson. Look at Clearwater Florida.

    If we were really running a fully serious war on terrorism, we would have a couple of B1-B's level Gold base and the Navy would blow the Free Winds out of the fucking water. The FBI and CIA would fall upon Clearwater and put the town under martial law until they had rooted out the Scientologists there.

    I think countries like Germany, Canada, France, and especially any Islamic countries should turn around and point a finger at the US and say, "Look, before you go waging war in other countries, why don't you take care of your own criminal organizations similar to Al Qaida?"

    Really? Why aren't we looking as much into them as we are into Al Qaida? Especially after the stunt they pulled at Ground Zero after the attacks, trying to recruit by posing as medical workers.

    I think its time that Bush and Co. took a look at home as much as they are abroad.

    --

    --Won't that be grand? Computers and the programs will start thinking and the people will stop. - Dr. Walter Gibbs
  3. Re:They make enemies because they need enemies by dgroskind · · Score: 4, Insightful

    They believe that humanity is on a path to immediate self-destruction ...

    Using the word "believe" gives Scientology too much credit. It's like saying that McDonalds believes you deserve a break today. Their so-called beliefs are nothing more than marketing techniques.

    In any case, if they wanted to foster a sense of persecution, you'd think they'd leave the pages up as evidence rather than trying to suppress them. They're behaving like any other business that faces criticism, which is further evidence that they are a business, not a religion.

  4. Re:Google's removal policy by Oink.NET · · Score: 4, Insightful
    On further reading of Google's removal policy, it looks like this case is being handled similarly to requests for removal of images from servers you don't have access to. Note the DMCA in the email address, dmca-images@google.com.

    Option 2: If you do not have any access to the server that hosts your image

    To have an image removed from our image search service, you must provide a written communication (email or regular mail) that sets forth the items specified below. Please note that you may be liable for damages (including costs and attorneys' fees) if you materially misrepresent that you own an image when you in fact do not. Accordingly, if you are not sure whether you have the right to request removal from our image search service, we suggest that you first contact an attorney.

    To expedite our ability to process your request, please use the following format (including section numbers):

    1. For each image you wish to have removed from our image search service, (a) provide the exact URL for the image, and (2) indicate whether that URL is owned or operated by you.
      For example:
      http://www.google.com/press/art.gif, yes
      http://www.google.com/images/toolbar_about.gi f, no
    2. Provide information reasonably sufficient for Google to contact you (email address is preferred).

    3. Include the following statement: "I swear, under penalty of perjury, that the information in the notification is accurate and that, for each of the images identified above, I am (or am authorized to act on behalf of) the copyright owner or an exclusive licensee."

    4. Sign the written communication (digitally or in ink).

    5. Send the written communication to either of the following addresses:

      dmca-images@google.com

      Google, Inc.
      Attn: Customer Support, Image Search Service complaints
      2400 Bayshore Pkwy
      Mountain View, CA 94043

  5. I feel sorry for Google... by Squirrel+Killer · · Score: 5, Insightful
    I feel sorry for Google, now that they've opened the door to de-list pages. I can see all sorts of targets of criticism claiming the DMCA to cow Google into removing results. Think of all the added work Google will have to do to comply with all those requests.

    FORD EXEC: This site is critical of our new Ford Excessive SUV, DMCA it out of you're listings!
    GOOGLE: Oh...O-OK...sure... (Butter's voice)

    BLIZZARD LAWYER: This site has a program to allow our games to be used on a LAN! DMCA it out of your database!
    GOOGLE: Oh...O-OK...sure...

    BILL G.: This review says bad things about our SQL server. Fire the DMCA at it Google!
    GOOGLE: Oh...O-OK...sure...

    DUBYA: Our military plans are protected by the DMCA. Google, nuke this site that criticizes them!
    GOOGLE: Oh...O-OK...sure...

    Maybe if they had stood up for their own free speech rights they wouldn't have opened the barn door like this. As much as I like Google, part of me wants to see the floodgates open and the de-listers come swarming in. Maybe someone will realize that occasionally, you do have to stand up for your rights.

    -sk

  6. Re:www.google.com's new banner? by fleener · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Look at the situation, in my opinion:

    Today people don't much care about Scientology filing a lawsuit against this person or that person. "Who are those people and why do I care if they're fighting an organization I don't even understand? Scientology never hurt me."

    I bet people would take notice if Google was sued. Three things could happen:

    1. Google gains even more users.
    2. Opponents mirror the offending material more now than ever, making it even easier to find in Google.
    3. Scientology's public image could be ruined if it endangered Google's future.

    People could begin asking, "What is Scientology and why did they make my favorite search engine go away? I can't find anything anymore."

    Under the current situation I only see:

    1. Google losing respect as an authoritative search engine, bowing to legal pressure at the expense of its core mission (helping people find web pages).

    If Google would guarantee that Scientology appears as the first link in Google results when users search for the world "Scientology," I don't see why Scientology would care about anti-Scientology material. Only people interested in that material will spend the time to look at it. People read the first link, and if it sounds right, they click it. End of story.

    In all my observations of user behavior, I've never seen a user read all of the search results and thoughtfully consider them before selecting which link is appropriate. They click the first link that looks like it might remotely be correct.