More About Anonymous

    • Who is Anonymous?

    • Anonymous is a cultural phenomenon which began on internet image boards. Many such boards require no registration for posting, and every poster remains anonymous. This format of communication is inherently noisy and chaotic. However, the unprecedented openness made possible by such boards has nurtured the appearance of a unique and persistent culture.

      We are a collection of individuals united by ideas. You likely know Anonymous, although you don't know exactly who we are. We are your brothers and sisters, your parents and children, your superiors and your underlings. We are the concerned citizens standing next to you. Anonymous is everywhere, yet nowhere. Our strength lies in our numbers. Our will as a whole is the combined will of individuals. Our greatest advantage is a knowledge of the fundamentals we share as human beings. This knowledge is a fruit of our anonymity.

      Anonymous has left its mark on society more than once. Previous Anonymous projects have resulted in the closing of the white-supremacist radio show produced by Hal Turner, and the criminal prosecution of Canadian pedophile Chris Forcand. Anonymous has been called a "Cyber Vigilante Group" by The Toronto Sun and Global News, though in reality we are much more than that.

      We are Anonymous. You can be Anonymous, too. Together, we can shape society.

    • Why do we protest?

    • Anonymous originally chose Scientology as a campaign target because of the events surrounding the now infamous Tom Cruise Scientology video. While the video itself was not enough to spark interest, the untamed aggression of the Church of Scientology to remove it did.

      Since our campaign began, Anonymous has uncovered or brought into the public eye hundreds of illegal actions, fraudulent activities, and human rights violations perpetrated by the Church of Scientology.

    • Why do we wear masks?

    • People have asked, and continue to ask, why we wear masks. The primary reason for the masks is the protection of our identities. After all, how anonymous would we be if we exposed our faces to the world? A second reason is the protection of our lives and livelihood. Due to Scientology's Fair Game policy, we put ourselves at risk socially, politically, and financially when we speak out against this dangerous cult. This is a cult that has a well earned reputation for harassing critics and openly critical ex-scientologists at their homes and workplaces. Taking measures to protect your privacy and anonymity when confronted by an aggressively litigious cult - a cult whose mantra is "Never Defend, Always Attack!" - is a matter of common sense.

      An in-depth article on the Fair Game policy can be found at Operation Clambake. A quick summary would state that any person declared Fair Game by Scientology may be attacked by legal or illegal means, and the Scientologist who commits this act may not be punished by the cult for it. While Scientology claims to have ended the policy several decades ago, they did so only in name. The cult continues to practice this policy to this day.

    • How are you organized?

    • Anonymous is comprised of people from all walks of life and has no rigid hierarchy or leadership. Our organization is accomplished entirely through the voluntary action and collaboration of individuals, many of whom do not know each other directly. Through the use of public communications channels such as [irc://irc.whyweprotest.net IRC (Internet Relay Chat)], Forums, and Wiki websites, plans are made by individuals and loose coalitions united by a common goal. If others are inspired by suggestions proposed by these ad-hoc groupings, Anonymous moves as a whole.

      The leadership of Anonymous is non-existent. We have no controlling party. We fall under the sway of no individual or organization. We are directed only by the decisions of the whole. Guidance comes from the message, not from the individual.

    • I've seen your protest videos, it looks more like a party than a protest.

    • Our objectives are serious, and must therefore be accomplished in a thoroughly enjoyable manner. In keeping with this, we encourage singing, music, and general merrymaking at our public demonstrations. Serious business does not preclude a sense of humor.

      There is another reason that we try to remain light-hearted during protests: Scientology Handlers. These are often men/women who are sent out to "handle" protesters by shouting in their faces, hitting them, knocking possessions out of hands, and in general bullying their targets in an attempt to provoke them into violent confrontation, so that the cult can claim "hate crimes" and "religious bigotry". Our lighthearted approach helps us to maintain a sense of perspective, and helps remind people to keep their cool. Since violent confrontation is not our objective, we do what we can to stay aloof when the handlers arrive. This is also the reason why we record everything.

      When we remain in good spirits, our sense of perspective keeps us safe.

    • What is your ultimate goal for Scientology?

    • While our immediate goal for the corrupt Church of Scientology is to have their (illegal) tax exempt status rescinded, our ultimate goal is to ensure that they are unable to continue their history of fear tactics, disconnection, and other illegal behavior.

      This may require completely dismantling of the Church of Scientology as an organized entity, an outcome we are prepared to see through. Keep in mind that this is not an attack against the religion of Scientology. Every person has the right to believe whatever they choose, and we have people from many faiths in our ranks. Religious bigotry is a tactic of Scientology, not of Anonymous. We bear no grudge against the FreeZone, who hold the copyright to the 1934 book "Scientology, Science of the Constitution and Usefulness of Knowledge". This book was released nearly two full decades before the first Hubbard writing with the word Scientology, and contains many of the founding principles of the religion.

      Our goal is to stop the blatant illegal actions and fear-mongering used by the Church of Scientology.

July Global Protest.
Find a protest near you.
Have a discussion with anonymous.