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FBI Put Hactivist Jeremy Hammond On a Terrorist Watchlist
blottsie writes The Federal Bureau of Investigation put Anonymous hacker Jeremy Hammond on a secret terrorist watchlist, according to confidential records obtained by the Daily Dot. The records further reveal how the FBI treats cybercrimes and shines a rare light on the expanding definitions of terrorism used by U.S. law enforcement agencies.
Wild expansion of powers to catch radical Islamic "terrorists" who fly planes into buildings. Who could be against that? You hate freedom if you're against that. Right? Years later, redefine "terrorist" to anyone you don't like. All the "paranoid" people correctly characterized the Patriot Act coming out of the gate. But nobody was would listen.
I have my doubts whether "cyberattacks" (presumably things like denial of service, taking advantage of weak passwords, etc.) should receive such harsh penalties. But given that such actions are treated as more serious than many violent crimes, it doesn't seem surprising or inconsistent for the federal government to want to keep an eye on him. The point is: if you don't like what happened to Hammond, complaining about him ending on a terrorist watch list won't do any good; what you should complain about is the harsh laws that made him a serious felon in the eye of the law to begin with.
Why did you take out the important words explaining the actions in question?
suspected "acts dangerous to property, or infrastructure" that appear intended to "intimidate or coerce a civilian population," or "influence the policy of a government."
It's like you want us to think peaceful protesters are going on the list, instead of people who blow stuff up.
Not sure how you got modded up since peaceful people will most certainly end up on this list. Have a look at the 50's and McCarthyism for a better understanding.