Anonymous: 'Internet has power to bring down regimes'

   

The Internet is the greatest tool of free speech ever created that gave voice to billions of people along with power to bring down regimes, a member of the Anonymous movement told newspapper, adding that such power terrifies governments around the globe.


Crowds of people wearing masks to hide their faces have marched in hundreds of cities all over the world, marking the Guy Fawkes Day with a global ‘Million Mask March’. As the Anonymous movement protested against government corruption, corporate malfeasance and the expanding surveillance state, Old Holborn, member of the movement told from London. 

“The internet has the power to bring down regimes. That is what terrifies them. That is why they are now monitor our phone calls, they monitor our emails, and they monitor our free speech. It terrifies them. They have no particular jurisdiction over the internet. It belongs to everyone,” Holborn told. 

   

Often described in the media as a loose-knit collective, Anonymous was propelled to public prominence in the last years over a series of politically-motivated cyber-attacks on businesses, government and religious institutions. Anonymous originated in 2003 on the imageboard 4chan, representing the concept of many online members that believe the anarchic space of the internet belongs to the people. 

“The internet is the greatest tool we have for free speech and everywhere on the planet we all have a voice now – 7 billion of us. Yes of course, somebody is going to get upset at something somebody else says. But we have to realize we all have a voice. We're all equal. If you don't like it, don't listen to it. That is freedom of choice and freedom of expression,” Holborn says. 

     

The agenda of those behind Wednesday's protests is wide-ranging. The movement is said to be growing in strength as global citizens report greater dissatisfaction with their local governments and because of the perception that corporation has a stranglehold on international politics. 

“We are not looking for a unified alternative. What we are looking for is for government to leave us alone. It is that simple. That is why we don't have leaders, it's everybody. Anonymous is whatever you want it to be,” the activist told.