The attack came after Wikileaks published the latest of its Global Intelligence Files (GIF), discussing the implementation of mass surveillance program called TrapWire in public spaces in the US.
“Attacks on wikileaks-press.org escalated after Wikileaks retweeted links to our mirrors of leaked files from WikiLeaks on a newly discovered mass surveillance program known as TrapWire,” WikiLeaks representatives explained.
“With that in mind, these attacks appear at a first glance to be part of an intimidation campaign; in the absence of any statements by the attackers, we are left only with speculation.”
In the meantime, Anonymous has revealed the start of Operation TrapWire. According to the hacktivists, the system uses facial recognition and complex artificial intelligence to monitor individuals, its official purpose being to prevent terrorism.
However, the hackers highlight that the system gives governments and corporation “unprecedented data-mining capabilities” that violate human rights.
Apparently, TrapWire doesn’t only monitor social media, but it also utilizes a number of CCTV cameras located in various places around New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Texas, Washington, London and other cities in the United States.
"The more we learn about TrapWire and similar systems, it becomes absolutely clear that we must at all costs shut this system down and render it useless."Anonymous said in the press release.
"A giant AI electronic brain able to monitor us through a combination of access to all the CCTV cameras as well as all the online social media feeds is monstrous and Orwellian in it's implications and possibilities. The Peoples Liberation Front and Anonymous will now put forth a call to arms, and initiate the doom of this evil and misbegotten program."