Ashley Madison Hack Raises Question Of Legality For Anonymous Hacktivists

9 Times Hackers Ignored The Law To Pursue 'Moral Justice'
|

Online activists -- or hacktivists -- continue to tread the fine line between legality and morality in their efforts to bring about social justice on the Internet.

Hacking groups such as Anonymous continue to seek targets of all natures in their pursuit of moral retribution.

But as they tread the fine line between legal and illegal activism, virtual vigilantes run the real risk of being brought to justice themselves.

This week, hackers exposed the details of millions of users of the adultery-based dating site Ashley Madison.

This has yet again prompted questions about the difference between legality and morality of online activism.

Dai Davis, an engineer and solicitor, thinks much of the debate around the legality of hacktivism is confused by the ambiguous nature of UK law. “Under the idiotic strict legal definition of what is legally allowed – like ‘computer misuse’ – then most things Anonymous do is unlawful.

"But so would using your hotel key card in the wrong door."

Morality does play a part in determining what is and isn't lawful. “Lawfulness is a morality judgement and it’s a relative term."

And what of the future of the law around hacktivism? “Votes aren’t won or lost because of hacktivism and not all hacktivism is bad,” Davis says.

While the law remains ambiguous, hackers continue to tread the fine line of legality and morality - but with their selection of unanimously reviled targets like ISIS, public support for online activists may remain.

From Kanye West to Katie Hopkins, to serious offenders and even Islamic State, here are 9 times hackers turned hacktivist and dodged the law in order to right perceived wrongs.

Hacktivists-List-One
Hack of AshleyMadison.com(01 of04)
Open Image Modal
A self-styled ‘Impact Team’ released a manifesto detailing their demands to those using the sites. A feature that charged users $19 to ‘fully’ delete their details is thought to have provoked the threats after hackers found it did not remove data entirely. (credit:The Impact Team)
Hack of AdultFriendFinder.com(02 of04)
Open Image Modal
In March 2015, an audacious breach of privacy caused the intimate sexual preferences of 3.5 million users to be exposed. Adult FriendFinder stored interests, preferences and fetishes in order to match up users, and all proved easily traceable once leaked. Hackers intended to send spam emails to those who’s data was obtained. (credit:Adult FriendFinder)
Threatening Katie Hopkins(03 of04)
Open Image Modal
In July 2015, threats against the controversial columnist by hacker group Anonymous saw them demand an immediate apology to those Hopkins had ‘caused pain’ and that she ‘show positivity’ or else suffer the release of personal data. (credit:AP)
Threatening Kanye West(04 of04)
Open Image Modal
Videos purporting to be published by the hacker group Anonymous made threats against the Gold Digger star, claiming retribution for his ‘annoying, classless’ behaviour. West was, the videos claimed, to be ‘no longer tolerated’. (credit:PA)

Hacktivists have not been limited to celebrities or morally questionable enterprises.

Earlier this year Anonymous devoted time and resources to taking on hate speech, organised criminal activity and even the Islamic State online.

Hacktivists-List-Two
Threatening Israel(01 of05)
Open Image Modal
Hackers launched ‘Operation Israel’ in response to alleged human rights abuses and in solidarity with Palestinian people. While media were quick to pick up the Anonymous group’s threat, the end result of the operation was not as successful, as hackers failed to penetrate Israeli cyber defences. (credit:Anonymous)
Hacking Westboro Baptist Church(02 of05)
Open Image Modal
The notorious religious group was targeted in an attempt to ‘shutdown’ the church’s activity online. Anonymous also pledged to send activists to the church’s funeral pickets. Tweets relating to the Charleston shootings provoked the group into action. (credit:Westboro Baptist / Twitter)
Threatening Paedophiles(03 of05)
Open Image Modal
Anonymous was behind a coordinated attack on alleged paedophiles, with a dedicated ‘evening of action’. “Operation: Death Eaters” sought to target alleged offenders amongst the ‘elite’, though the outcome seems unclear. (credit:Anonymous / Twitter)
Avenging Charlie Hebdo(04 of05)
Open Image Modal
Hackers were quick to declare their intentions to avenge the massacre of those killed at the offices of Charlie Hebdo in Paris, with a French spokesperson declaring, "We will track you down -- every last one -- and will kill you." ‘Operation Charlie Hebdo’ saw jihadist websites shut down following the shootings. (credit:PA)
Hacking Islamic State(05 of05)
Open Image Modal
"ISIS, we will hunt you, take down your sites, accounts, emails and expose you,” Anonymous said in a statement as they launched a full attack on IS websites and social media accounts. The group claimed the hack resulted in dozens of accounts being taken down, email addresses compromised and websites frozen. (credit:Anonymous)