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FBI Put Hactivist Jeremy Hammond On a Terrorist Watchlist

Posted by timothy on from the watch-you-watch-yourself dept.

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.

9 of 127 comments (clear)

  1. As always the definition of a terrorist by waspleg · · Score: 5, Insightful

    is anyone that they see as threatening TLA power - particularly for the FBI (communism anyone?).

    1. Re:As always the definition of a terrorist by davydagger · · Score: 5, Insightful
      basicly the definition of terrorism as defined by the government is nothing more than "dissent", which is the real crime, and acts of actual violence against persons and destruction of property are merely secondary offenses to the main crime of dissent.

      Tell yourself again, we live in a free country.

      Also, ten years for at worst is some jackass stunt. Gets put in solidarity for being a communist. Related is that as soon as a similar man, weev gets let of prison, he goes full on NatSoc, after charges are mysteriously dropped, and going out to get a nazi tattoo.

      Does this smell like the government propping up fascism, or does it smell like the government propping up fascism?

    2. Re:As always the definition of a terrorist by Frobnicator · · Score: 5, Insightful

      basicly the definition of terrorism as defined by the government is nothing more than "dissent"

      Did you read the article? According to the definition issued by the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) in March 2013 ... an individual may be nominated to the TSDB watchlist for suspected acts [... that threats to society ... ] or "influence the policy of a government."

      If your suspected action threatens to influence government policy, you're good enough for a terrorist watchlist.

      Let's throw all of Washington DC into gitmo. They're threatening to influence government policy. Terrorists, the lot of them.

      --
      //TODO: Think of witty sig statement
    3. Re:As always the definition of a terrorist by Bacon+Bits · · Score: 5, Insightful

      "Terrorism" is the new word for "sedition". It turns out "treason" is really difficult to prosecute, but if you change the crime of "acts of war" into a generic and malleable term like "terrorism", you can throw all kinds of nonsense in there that the government considers subversive. Now you don't actually have to do anything wrong to be guilty. You just have to make people afraid that you are!

      --
      The road to tyranny has always been paved with claims of necessity.
    4. Re:As always the definition of a terrorist by mrchaotica · · Score: 4, Insightful

      If your peaceful protest has an ideology that's anything but capitalist, then I'm sure there's someone at the FBI capable of construing it as "dangerous to [the concept of] property."

      --

      "[Regarding the 'cloud,'] ownership was what made America different than Russia." -- Woz

    5. Re:As always the definition of a terrorist by nobuddy · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I'm curious what Mr Hammond blew up to get him on this list.

  2. Who ISN'T on a terror watch list these days by nehumanuscrede · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Say something the government doesn't like: Watch List
    Participate in a protest the government doesn't like: Watch List
    Buy too many guns or ammo in X period of time: Watch List
    Visit some country our government doesn't like: Watch List
    Donate to a charity or organization our government doesn't like: Watch List
    Use VPN's or TOR or tech to try to keep some privacy: Probably on a Watch List

    I'm sure I could expand this list quite a bit were I to put some effort into it. But you get the point.

  3. Hate the haters by neurosine · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Isn't it odd how the US government seems to openly and willfully emulate all of the hacks and cracks it deems to be illegal? Each branch has an agenda, often not in the interest or to the benefit of the people of the US...and each never has to be answerable. Perfectly innocent exploration and discovery is now a criminal act. I guess it's like killing a person, or a large group of people. You can't do it, unless you're killing for the government. Then it's not only okay, but heroic. I shouldn't pick on the US, many governments are ran this way. I just don't like my government exhibiting this hypocrisy. It's a matter of, if they'll do it to someone else...they'll do it to you as well. Also, who's Jeremy Hammond?

  4. Re:hacktivist? by king+neckbeard · · Score: 4, Insightful

    If harsher sentencing doesn't reduce recidivism, then it's not solving a problem, and because of added costs for longer incarceration, is actually worse. The war on drugs is a perfect example. People don't use less drugs, people sentenced to drug offenses commit more serious crimes, and are less likely to be able to become contributing members of society even if they want to. Also, you might want to keep in mind that the 'message' you send may be that you are tyrant that should be destroyed, which I would say is usually the message when someone wants to 'send a message.' Perhaps you should look to a model other than the Tarkin Doctrine.

    --
    This is my signature. There are many like it, but this one is mine.