An Anonymous member? Photo Credit: Stian Eikeland http://www.flickr.com/photos/stianeikeland/3696386615/sizes/m/in/photostream/
declaration of war on child pornography websites
Anonymous has previously claimed responsibility for high-profile attacks on corporate and government websites worldwide. The Zetas are one of the biggest players in Mexico’s drug war, which has resulted in about 40,000 deaths since 2006, reported Time’s Techland blog.
What’s Anonymous’ beef with Zetas? Earlier this month, a YouTube video showed a man in a Guy Fawkes mask who claimed to speak for Anonymous warning the Zetas that he and his Anon chums would reveal the names of people who had aided the cartel, including taxi drivers, police officers and journalists, if a kidnapped member of Anonymous wasn’t released. The name of the supposedly kidnapped Anonymous member was not revealed in the YouTube message, which says Anonymous is “tired of the criminal group the Zetas, which is dedicated to kidnapping, stealing and extortion”, and threatens to fight back with information instead of weapons. Associated Press noted that Anonymous will supposedly drop the information bomb this coming Friday if the kidnapped activist is not freed or is harmed.
“We cannot defend ourselves with weapons, but we can with their cars, houses, bars”, the message threatens, apparently alluding to properties owned by cartel supporters. “It’s not difficult. We know who they are and where they are are.”
Zetas should be quaking in their boots. Seriously. If Anonymous really do have details of Zeta members and post them online that could cause the cartel all sorts of bother as rival gangs would almost definitely ‘go after’ the outed gangsters. Associated Press detailed just how bad this drug-related violence has got in Veracruz. The newswire reported that there has seen a “spike in drug violence in recent months in what authorities say is a battle between the Zetas drug cartel, which has controlled the territory for at least a year, and its rivals.” Dozens of bodies have been showing up in recent weeks, including the dumping of 35 last month on a main highway in rush-hour traffic in the city of Boca del Rio. “Two other Internet postings since July have announced the arrival of group that calls itself the ‘Mata Zetas’, or Zeta Killers, who authorities say are likely aligned with the powerful Sinaloa Cartel”, noted AP. Gawker, who’ve had their own well-documented run-ins with Anonymous, argued that the Zetas should definitely be fearful of Anonymous. They quoted cyberwarfare expert Jeffrey Carr, who said that, any info released by Anonymous “‘would almost certainly’ be used by the Zetas’ enemies and authorities, and possibly lead to a movement that could overthrow the cartel.” With gangs turning to the internet to post video warnings and communicate via social media, it’s possible that the Zetas have already built up enough of a digital footprint that Anonymous can exploit to their ends, suggested Carr.
“Zetas V Anonymous? I want a ringside seat”, tweeted Vice Co-founder and boxing fan Shane Smith.
Anonymous bitten off more than they can chew? If the message is real, it means Anonymous “is playing with fire” adjudged Techland, which reminded that, in September, the Zetas allegedly decapitated 39-year-old Marisol Macías Castañeda in the town of Nuevo Laredo for supposedly posting comments to social-networking sites under the name Laredo Girl. The sign next to her body read, “Nuevo Laredo en Vivo and social networking sites, I’m The Laredo Girl, and I’m here because of my reports, and yours.” That same month, two bodies were found hanging next to a sign that stated, “This is going to happen to all Internet snitches. Pay attention, I’m watching you.”