Who is Anonymous?

Who is Anonymous? A product of the new world order. A world in which societies, culture, technology, communications, governments, businesses and all alike are so highly interconnected and dependent on one another that the balance of power has shifted drastically. In such an age, the decentralization of power among nations has declined, in turn bringing rise to global social movements.

Anonymous, a phenomenon within and of itself, is a highly decentralized global network of online "Hacktivists" which have taken the globe by storm. These vigilantes have perpetrated dozens of high profile attacks on governments, corporations and individuals alike. The group seeks to eliminate social injustices and level the playing field for those who are disenfranchised by the current power play system that dominates our politics.

This group, facilitated by instantaneous communication, is made up of rogue, independent actors from all corners of the world, each with various goals in mind. They claim to represent all of mankind and to preserve basic human rights that have been abused. This organization with its efficiency and unstated agenda, has struck fear into the hearts of those with power. Those who seek to exploit, abuse power, and corrupt governments around the world have met their match.

Their moral righteousness, quest for justice and thirst for fairness have led them to disrupt the activities of many of these unethical organizations.

Lockheed Martin, one of the world's largest private security contracting firms, was a victim of Anonymous after their private donations account was hacked, in which millions of dollars were stolen and redirected to various charities.
After PayPal cut services to Wikileaks in lieu of Julian Assange's arrest, Anonymous responded quickly by bringing down PayPal's servers, disrupting it's business and costing it millions.
After the introduction of the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) by the U.S. government in 2011, Anonymous almost literally blew up the websites of the FBI, U.S. Department of Justice, Universal Music Group, the Recording Industry Association of America, the Motion Picture Association of America and Warner Music Group, among others.

Figure 1 (Click to Enlarge)

It doesn't stop there- individual targets have been chosen as well.

Current ruler Bashar Al-Assad of Syria was one of many victims, as his personal e-mails were distributed publically throughout the web.
The C.E.O. of HBGary Federal, another infamous security firm, was a victim after Anonymous hacked it's webpage and replaced the website's main image with a message of it's own (see Figure 1).

Their mission of defending freedom of speech and internet liberty has placed them on the red list of many countries around the world. Their tactics represent the necessary methods in which to combat those that seek to oppress such basic fundamental rights as free speech and peace. Through clever and ingenious ways, Anonymous has assembled some of the brightest minds around the world, albeit anonymously, to further the cause of social justice and freedom for all.

This truly global social movement is one that deserves much needed respect. For all of us little people out there the idea of battling these overwhelmingly powerful forces on our own seems futile. Even while peaceful protest and assembly have proven fruitful and effective, these forms of conscientious objection have also been met with oppression and censorship.

That's where Anonymous comes in. They do what we can't- strike at the heart of the oppressors. While we march around in the streets demanding rights, the powerful sit in their high rise buildings looking down upon us from their proverbial thrones made of money and influence. This has changed after Anonymous has penetrated the financial workings of these power mongers, making their actions more costly than profitable.

While our political mobility may be limited to influence legislators, Anonymous has the resources and expertise to carry out those goals of change and progress. We as individuals are anonymous as our value as people and individuals have been thrown to the waste side in favor of those with the finances to bankroll new elections for corrupt politicians.

While these shadowy, influential and powerful entities are able to influence lawmakers to do their bidding, a similar, shadowy, influential, and powerful entity is one step ahead of them; Anonymous. The only difference is, the latter seek to defend the rights of the powerless, the voiceless, and the disenfranchised.

So next time you ask yourself "Who is Anonymous?", just remember; each and everyone of us is Anonymous.