Update (12/19/12): The suspended @YourAnonNews account has been reinstated shortly after publication. See their confirmation tweet.
Twitter Clamps Down on Anonymous for TOS Violation
Twitter has suspended the primary account of hacktivist collective Anonymous (@YourAnonNews) for sharing private information—a likely reference to their recent leak of Westboro Baptist Church members’ personal data. The account boasted nearly 800,000 followers before its removal.
Key Developments:
- Reason for Suspension: Twitter’s Terms of Service explicitly prohibit publishing private information (e.g., addresses, phone numbers), which Anonymous allegedly violated by doxxing Westboro members.
- Context: The leak followed Westboro’s controversial plan to protest funerals for victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting.
- Anonymous’ Response: The group stated they would “move on” but expressed frustration through backup accounts (Tweet 1, Tweet 2).
Why This Matters
This incident highlights the tension between:
- Platform Policies: Twitter must enforce rules uniformly to maintain trust and legal compliance.
- Hacktivist Tactics: Anonymous frequently uses data leaks as protest tools, arguing they expose wrongdoing.
Ethical Dilemma: While Westboro’s actions are widely condemned, vigilante data breaches risk harming individuals beyond intended targets and may incite real-world harassment.
This is a developing story. Last updated December 19, 2012.
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