Facebook and Twitter wipe their hands of Operation Payback, one member possibly arrested

December 9, 2010 By Molly McHugh

Facebook and Twitter are continuing to host official WikiLeaks accounts, but have removed those of Operation Payback, and one member may have been arrested in the Netherlands.

We reported yesterday that Twitter had closed the Operation Anon account shortly after it initiated DDoS attacks on Visa and Mastercard, and Facebook shortly followed the lead. However, the group is most likely going to create new user profiles, only to enter a cycle of being shut down by the social networking sites.

The WikiLeaks supporters had an impressive following on Facebook and Twitter prior to being pulled, and used the sites to threaten dissidents and inspire like-minded individuals. The Christian Science Monitor reports that early Wednesday morning, user “Guy Fawkes” wrote, “Mastercard, Visa, Paypal, Amazon all betray America by betraying Free Speech. You will all be dealt with. Anonymous is on your case. WikiLeaks cannot be silenced!,” on Operation Payback’s Facebook page. But it’s unlikely Facebook and Twitter will pay for their detraction as long as they continue to support WikiLeaks.

Of course faux accounts are popping up left and right, and will continue to. It’s a minor obstacle for Anonymous, which used social media to announce its plans and attacks, but they’re clearly a digital-friendly bunch and will presumably be able to find a way to communicate to followers. And if they don’t, the fake accounts work to add confusion as to what they’re targeting next.

But losing their Facebook and Twitter accounts is relatively minor compared to the possible arrest of one of the group’s members. Dutch police have taken a teenage boy into custody in relation to the attacks,which are believed to be coming out of Haarlem, a city near Amsterdam. De Telegraaph reports that the sixteen year old was interrogated and confessed, but there are no other details at this time.

Showing 12 comments

Bubba at 6:59pm 30th December 2010 Mr. Ass ange needs money, so he's writing a book. Very interesting. Is the Taliban the publisher? Maybe Osama bum laden could throw him a few bucks?
Fort Mac Guy at 10:46pm 27th December 2010 Julian Assange is a ego maniac and traitor to any country he has damaged with his Wikileaks stunt. He just signed a book deal for 1.3 million dollars, with the excuse he "Needs" the money to keep is stupid pet project afloat. Stayed tuned for the movie deal he will most surely sign on for. He is a sleaze and a criminal
Cadiz at 3:29am 25th December 2010 It is just funny how Julian Assange says that information should be public but is complaining about how details of his sexual assaults are being let into the public domain. What a two faced idiot.
Sylvia03 at 12:01pm 13th December 2010 If one ought to exercise free speech, how is he or she doing that, without beeing cought and nailed onto the wal? Should you not encrypt these sensitive transmissions from people to your site, so that one has the feeling, no one listens in? While i am writing to you, at this time, I am not secured!
ozarknature at 8:47am 12th December 2010 Wikileaks forever!
1. Bubba at 6:53pm 30th December 2010 Another Wiki-whacker whacking his wiki all day.
Bubba at 10:13pm 11th December 2010 If you don't stop playing with your wiki, it will fall off!
Bubba at 10:11pm 11th December 2010 The article refers to a hacker Guy Fawkes saying wikileaks is freedom of speech. Providing information to the enemy does nothing to promote freedom of any kind. Wikileaks is providing information to enemies such as the Taliban. The latest release shows over 1500 targets for our enemies to attack. The dollar amount of damage to USA govt. networks is in BILLIONS. If your Wiki leaks, try a larger diaper. If your wiki still leaks, you should see a urologist. They can give you meds to make your wiki feel all better!
1. johnathan_cash at 8:37pm 29th December 2010 Bubba sounds as intelligent as his name. Wiki leaks leaks old information, that does not and can no longer have any impact on any current operation. The leaks are of old information. There are no targets for the Taliban to attack suggested by wikileaks. Wikileaks does show how stupid the U.S. and other governments are, and how they continue to fail to act forcefully with the likes of Pakistan, Karzi, China, North Korea, Iran. Those countries are costing us billions every year, real money in real time. The US sends $2 billion a year to Pakistan so Pakistan can pay terrorists to slaughter hundreds of people in a hotel over the Christmas/New Year Holiday. Wiki had nothing to do with that, yet you attack wikileaks? Get Real.
  1. billybadbones at 2:38pm 30th December 2010 Johnny if the government is stupid the people that do nothing to fix the problem and allow their stupid governments to continue being stupid are at least equally as guilty, if not moreso. Since you have all the answers to save the world, maybe you should run for office and go fix things. You and Rush Limburger can hold hands and frolic through the daisy's after you fix everything for us. That sure will be swell.
  2. Bubba at 7:17pm 30th December 2010 The security upgrades cost big bucks. The cash sent to Pakistan is to cover the drone attacks by the USA on their soil. You can't shoot people in your allies country without compensation. There are many more terrorist groups which see Operation Payback as a new tool to destroy the USA. Imagine if all computers in the world stopped working. How would the economy be affected? When Bum Laden hit the twin towers, his real target was the US economy. The planes flying into the WTC affected ALL Americans. If Al-Queda used operation payback in addition to the WIKI-WHACKERS, that would cause financial problems that would affect people like you.
2. Bubba at 7:31pm 30th December 2010 By the way, Guy Fawkes night is a holiday in Great Britain, also called bonfire night, to celebrate the hatred of Catholics. Look it up on Google. Guy Fawkes was a Catholic who plotted to blow up the British parliament in 1617 or so. The Prots sing about killing the Pope. George Washington banned Guy Fawkes Night in the colonies, because of the hatred it conveys.