Scientology and the Internet - Revision history

GreenC bot: Rescued 1 archive link; Move 1 url. Wayback Medic 2.5 per WP:URLREQ#foxnews.com/story

2024-09-30T20:00:59Z

Rescued 1 archive link; Move 1 url. Wayback Medic 2.5 per WP:URLREQ#foxnews.com/story

← Previous revision		Revision as of 20:00, 30 September 2024
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	In June 2006, Scientology lawyers sent [[cease-and-desist]] letters to [[Max Goldberg]], founder of the website [[YTMND]], asking him to take down all sites that either talked about or mocked Scientology, which had recently become a fad on the site following [[Trapped in the Closet (South Park episode)\|a popular ''South Park'' episode]]. Goldberg responded by stating that the "claims are completely groundless and I'm not removing anything," adding to the members of the site, "it should only be a matter of time before we're sued out of existence." In response, YTMNDers created yet more sites about Scientology; these were highlighted on the main page. They also campaigned to [[Google bomb]] "The Unfunny Truth About Scientology" site. No legal action was taken against YTMND or Goldberg.		In June 2006, Scientology lawyers sent [[cease-and-desist]] letters to [[Max Goldberg]], founder of the website [[YTMND]], asking him to take down all sites that either talked about or mocked Scientology, which had recently become a fad on the site following [[Trapped in the Closet (South Park episode)\|a popular ''South Park'' episode]]. Goldberg responded by stating that the "claims are completely groundless and I'm not removing anything," adding to the members of the site, "it should only be a matter of time before we're sued out of existence." In response, YTMNDers created yet more sites about Scientology; these were highlighted on the main page. They also campaigned to [[Google bomb]] "The Unfunny Truth About Scientology" site. No legal action was taken against YTMND or Goldberg.

	In August 2007, [[MSNBC]] quoted [[Associated Press]], in an article on the [[Wikipedia Scanner]], that computers owned by the Church of Scientology [[Church of Scientology editing on Wikipedia\|had been removing criticism]] in the Scientology entry on Wikipedia.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130926201629/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/20284811/ New online tool traces Wikipedia edits: PCs in Scientology officialdom removed criticism in Church's entry], ''[[NBC News]]'', [[Associated Press]], [[Brian Bergstein]], August 15, 2007</ref> A [[Fox News]] article also reported that Church of Scientology computers had been used to delete references to the relationship between Scientology and the [[Cult Awareness Network]], in the article on the Cult Awareness Network on Wikipedia.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,293389,00.html Wal-Mart, CIA, ExxonMobil Changed Wikipedia Entries], August 16, 2007, [[Fox News]], Rhys Blakely, Fox News Network, LLC.</ref> In May 2009, the Wikipedia Arbitration Committee decided to restrict access to its site from Church of Scientology IP addresses, to prevent self-serving edits by Scientologists.<ref name="Huff">{{cite web\|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/29/wikipedia-bans-scientolog_n_208967.html\|last=Shea\|first=Danny\|title=Wikipedia Bans Scientology From Site\|date=2009-05-29\|work=The Huffington Post\|access-date=2009-05-29}}</ref><ref name="Metz">{{cite web\|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/05/29/wikipedia_bans_scientology/\|title=Wikipedia bans Church of Scientology\|last=Metz\|first=Cade\|date=2009-05-29\|work=The Register\|access-date=2009-05-29}}</ref> A "host of anti-Scientologist editors" were topic-banned as well.<ref name="Huff" /><ref name="Metz" /> The committee concluded that both sides had "gamed policy" and resorted to "battlefield tactics", with articles on living persons being the "worst casualties".<ref name="Huff" />		In August 2007, [[MSNBC]] quoted [[Associated Press]], in an article on the [[Wikipedia Scanner]], that computers owned by the Church of Scientology [[Church of Scientology editing on Wikipedia\|had been removing criticism]] in the Scientology entry on Wikipedia.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130926201629/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/20284811/ New online tool traces Wikipedia edits: PCs in Scientology officialdom removed criticism in Church's entry], ''[[NBC News]]'', [[Associated Press]], [[Brian Bergstein]], August 15, 2007</ref> A [[Fox News]] article also reported that Church of Scientology computers had been used to delete references to the relationship between Scientology and the [[Cult Awareness Network]], in the article on the Cult Awareness Network on Wikipedia.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20071023054707/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,293389,00.html Wal-Mart, CIA, ExxonMobil Changed Wikipedia Entries], August 16, 2007, [[Fox News]], Rhys Blakely, Fox News Network, LLC.</ref> In May 2009, the Wikipedia Arbitration Committee decided to restrict access to its site from Church of Scientology IP addresses, to prevent self-serving edits by Scientologists.<ref name="Huff">{{cite web\|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/29/wikipedia-bans-scientolog_n_208967.html\|last=Shea\|first=Danny\|title=Wikipedia Bans Scientology From Site\|date=2009-05-29\|work=The Huffington Post\|access-date=2009-05-29}}</ref><ref name="Metz">{{cite web\|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/05/29/wikipedia_bans_scientology/\|title=Wikipedia bans Church of Scientology\|last=Metz\|first=Cade\|date=2009-05-29\|work=The Register\|access-date=2009-05-29}}</ref> A "host of anti-Scientologist editors" were topic-banned as well.<ref name="Huff" /><ref name="Metz" /> The committee concluded that both sides had "gamed policy" and resorted to "battlefield tactics", with articles on living persons being the "worst casualties".<ref name="Huff" />

	== Project Chanology ==		== Project Chanology ==
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	== WikiLeaks ==		== WikiLeaks ==
	In March 2008, [[WikiLeaks]] published a 612-page Scientology manual on the eight [[Operating Thetan]] levels, considered secret by the Church of Scientology.<ref name=Fox>{{cite news\|url=~~http~~://www.foxnews.com/story/~~0,2933,368315,00.html~~ \|publisher=Fox News \|title=Watchdog Web Site Draws Legal Threats from Scientologists, Mormons \|date=2008-06-19}}</ref> Three weeks later, Wikileaks received a [[threat\|warning]] from the Church of Scientology that the manual was copyrighted and that its publication infringed [[Anti-copyright\|intellectual-property rights]].<ref name=Fox /> WikiLeaks refused to remove the material, and its operator released a statement saying that Scientology was a "[[cult]]" that "aids and abets a general climate of Western media [[self-censorship]]."<ref name=Fox /> A Church of Scientology International spokeswoman, writing to FOXNews.com, said: "I can only assume that religious bigotry and prejudice is driving their activity, as there is no altruistic value in posting our copyrighted scriptures, despite WikiLeaks' statements to the contrary. Posting entire books and hundreds of pages of published works is not 'Sunshine Policy' but wholesale copyright infringement."<ref name=Fox /> [[Julian Assange]] replied: "We thought it was a small issue, and our normal fare is government corruption and military secrets, so it seemed that this nutty religious organization was pretty inconsequential in terms of what we normally do. But after receiving these legal threats from them ... it was time for us to make a stand."<ref name=Fox />		In March 2008, [[WikiLeaks]] published a 612-page Scientology manual on the eight [[Operating Thetan]] levels, considered secret by the Church of Scientology.<ref name=Fox>{{cite news\|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/watchdog-web-site-draws-legal-threats-from-scientologists-mormons \|publisher=Fox News \|title=Watchdog Web Site Draws Legal Threats from Scientologists, Mormons \|date=2008-06-19}}</ref> Three weeks later, Wikileaks received a [[threat\|warning]] from the Church of Scientology that the manual was copyrighted and that its publication infringed [[Anti-copyright\|intellectual-property rights]].<ref name=Fox /> WikiLeaks refused to remove the material, and its operator released a statement saying that Scientology was a "[[cult]]" that "aids and abets a general climate of Western media [[self-censorship]]."<ref name=Fox /> A Church of Scientology International spokeswoman, writing to FOXNews.com, said: "I can only assume that religious bigotry and prejudice is driving their activity, as there is no altruistic value in posting our copyrighted scriptures, despite WikiLeaks' statements to the contrary. Posting entire books and hundreds of pages of published works is not 'Sunshine Policy' but wholesale copyright infringement."<ref name=Fox /> [[Julian Assange]] replied: "We thought it was a small issue, and our normal fare is government corruption and military secrets, so it seemed that this nutty religious organization was pretty inconsequential in terms of what we normally do. But after receiving these legal threats from them ... it was time for us to make a stand."<ref name=Fox />

	== Notable legal actions ==		== Notable legal actions ==

GreenC bot: Rescued 1 archive link. Wayback Medic 2.5 per WP:URLREQ#nbcnews.com

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Rescued 1 archive link. Wayback Medic 2.5 per WP:URLREQ#nbcnews.com

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	In June 2006, Scientology lawyers sent [[cease-and-desist]] letters to [[Max Goldberg]], founder of the website [[YTMND]], asking him to take down all sites that either talked about or mocked Scientology, which had recently become a fad on the site following [[Trapped in the Closet (South Park episode)\|a popular ''South Park'' episode]]. Goldberg responded by stating that the "claims are completely groundless and I'm not removing anything," adding to the members of the site, "it should only be a matter of time before we're sued out of existence." In response, YTMNDers created yet more sites about Scientology; these were highlighted on the main page. They also campaigned to [[Google bomb]] "The Unfunny Truth About Scientology" site. No legal action was taken against YTMND or Goldberg.		In June 2006, Scientology lawyers sent [[cease-and-desist]] letters to [[Max Goldberg]], founder of the website [[YTMND]], asking him to take down all sites that either talked about or mocked Scientology, which had recently become a fad on the site following [[Trapped in the Closet (South Park episode)\|a popular ''South Park'' episode]]. Goldberg responded by stating that the "claims are completely groundless and I'm not removing anything," adding to the members of the site, "it should only be a matter of time before we're sued out of existence." In response, YTMNDers created yet more sites about Scientology; these were highlighted on the main page. They also campaigned to [[Google bomb]] "The Unfunny Truth About Scientology" site. No legal action was taken against YTMND or Goldberg.

	In August 2007, [[MSNBC]] quoted [[Associated Press]], in an article on the [[Wikipedia Scanner]], that computers owned by the Church of Scientology [[Church of Scientology editing on Wikipedia\|had been removing criticism]] in the Scientology entry on Wikipedia.<ref>[http://www.nbcnews.com/id/20284811 New online tool traces Wikipedia edits: PCs in Scientology officialdom removed criticism in Church's entry], ''[[NBC News]]'', [[Associated Press]], [[Brian Bergstein]], August 15, 2007</ref> A [[Fox News]] article also reported that Church of Scientology computers had been used to delete references to the relationship between Scientology and the [[Cult Awareness Network]], in the article on the Cult Awareness Network on Wikipedia.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,293389,00.html Wal-Mart, CIA, ExxonMobil Changed Wikipedia Entries], August 16, 2007, [[Fox News]], Rhys Blakely, Fox News Network, LLC.</ref> In May 2009, the Wikipedia Arbitration Committee decided to restrict access to its site from Church of Scientology IP addresses, to prevent self-serving edits by Scientologists.<ref name="Huff">{{cite web\|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/29/wikipedia-bans-scientolog_n_208967.html\|last=Shea\|first=Danny\|title=Wikipedia Bans Scientology From Site\|date=2009-05-29\|work=The Huffington Post\|access-date=2009-05-29}}</ref><ref name="Metz">{{cite web\|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/05/29/wikipedia_bans_scientology/\|title=Wikipedia bans Church of Scientology\|last=Metz\|first=Cade\|date=2009-05-29\|work=The Register\|access-date=2009-05-29}}</ref> A "host of anti-Scientologist editors" were topic-banned as well.<ref name="Huff" /><ref name="Metz" /> The committee concluded that both sides had "gamed policy" and resorted to "battlefield tactics", with articles on living persons being the "worst casualties".<ref name="Huff" />		In August 2007, [[MSNBC]] quoted [[Associated Press]], in an article on the [[Wikipedia Scanner]], that computers owned by the Church of Scientology [[Church of Scientology editing on Wikipedia\|had been removing criticism]] in the Scientology entry on Wikipedia.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130926201629/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/20284811/ New online tool traces Wikipedia edits: PCs in Scientology officialdom removed criticism in Church's entry], ''[[NBC News]]'', [[Associated Press]], [[Brian Bergstein]], August 15, 2007</ref> A [[Fox News]] article also reported that Church of Scientology computers had been used to delete references to the relationship between Scientology and the [[Cult Awareness Network]], in the article on the Cult Awareness Network on Wikipedia.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,293389,00.html Wal-Mart, CIA, ExxonMobil Changed Wikipedia Entries], August 16, 2007, [[Fox News]], Rhys Blakely, Fox News Network, LLC.</ref> In May 2009, the Wikipedia Arbitration Committee decided to restrict access to its site from Church of Scientology IP addresses, to prevent self-serving edits by Scientologists.<ref name="Huff">{{cite web\|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/29/wikipedia-bans-scientolog_n_208967.html\|last=Shea\|first=Danny\|title=Wikipedia Bans Scientology From Site\|date=2009-05-29\|work=The Huffington Post\|access-date=2009-05-29}}</ref><ref name="Metz">{{cite web\|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/05/29/wikipedia_bans_scientology/\|title=Wikipedia bans Church of Scientology\|last=Metz\|first=Cade\|date=2009-05-29\|work=The Register\|access-date=2009-05-29}}</ref> A "host of anti-Scientologist editors" were topic-banned as well.<ref name="Huff" /><ref name="Metz" /> The committee concluded that both sides had "gamed policy" and resorted to "battlefield tactics", with articles on living persons being the "worst casualties".<ref name="Huff" />

	== Project Chanology ==		== Project Chanology ==

Nick Number: sp siege WP:TYPO - trivial typo

2024-07-16T23:45:08Z

sp siege WP:TYPO - trivial typo

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	In 1994, [[Scientology official]] [[Mike Rinder]] was put on the case when the [[OT Level]]s appeared on the internet.		In 1994, [[Scientology official]] [[Mike Rinder]] was put on the case when the [[OT Level]]s appeared on the internet.
	{{blockquote\|text=This was a huge flap. ... At the outset, it was unclear who was responsible, and all hands began a frantic effort to nail down the perpetrators. ... We tapped any scientologist who had computer expertise and engage a group of PIs to collect evidence. This was both high priority and highly confidential. ... [Five] people were identified as suspects, and lawsuits were filed against them. In February 1995, federal marshals raided their homes and seized their computers. ... The filing of these lawsuits was a strategic blunder. It set the fledgling internet on fire and activists began appearing from all over, vowing to destroy scientology and end its assault on 'free speech'. [[Religious Technology Center\|RTC]] launched a new — and virtual — assault that scientology has never recovered from: legal threats, lawsuits, and attempted criminal prosecutions proved to be no match for the anonymous worldwide information dissemination vehicle that was the ever-expanding internet. Scientology was losing the battle to keep the OT levels secret, ... databases proliferated containing all copyrighted works, all Hubbard lectures, and then internal scientology documents. ... we soon understood that we were under ~~seige~~ ... [our lawyers] sent out threats to every person who posted the materials, to the [ISPs], and even to the phone companies that gave access to the internet. But that resulted in more sites appearing. It was ultimately a hopeless war ... Eventually, even we had to admit we had lost. We were playing a never-ending game of [[Whac-A-Mole]] — virtually everything ever written by Hubbard or about Scientology has now been posted on the internet. \|author=Mike Rinder {{r\|rinder\|pp=153-156}} }}		{{blockquote\|text=This was a huge flap. ... At the outset, it was unclear who was responsible, and all hands began a frantic effort to nail down the perpetrators. ... We tapped any scientologist who had computer expertise and engage a group of PIs to collect evidence. This was both high priority and highly confidential. ... [Five] people were identified as suspects, and lawsuits were filed against them. In February 1995, federal marshals raided their homes and seized their computers. ... The filing of these lawsuits was a strategic blunder. It set the fledgling internet on fire and activists began appearing from all over, vowing to destroy scientology and end its assault on 'free speech'. [[Religious Technology Center\|RTC]] launched a new — and virtual — assault that scientology has never recovered from: legal threats, lawsuits, and attempted criminal prosecutions proved to be no match for the anonymous worldwide information dissemination vehicle that was the ever-expanding internet. Scientology was losing the battle to keep the OT levels secret, ... databases proliferated containing all copyrighted works, all Hubbard lectures, and then internal scientology documents. ... we soon understood that we were under siege ... [our lawyers] sent out threats to every person who posted the materials, to the [ISPs], and even to the phone companies that gave access to the internet. But that resulted in more sites appearing. It was ultimately a hopeless war ... Eventually, even we had to admit we had lost. We were playing a never-ending game of [[Whac-A-Mole]] — virtually everything ever written by Hubbard or about Scientology has now been posted on the internet. \|author=Mike Rinder {{r\|rinder\|pp=153-156}} }}

	According to [[Tony Ortega]], in the 1970s it was easier for Scientology to make scandalous stories disappear. "With limited media outlets to target, Scientology could reasonably expect to control its reputation. Critics could be marginalized or drowned out." With the internet's popularity and mainstreaming, it is more difficult because "the Internet never forgets". [[Mark Ebner]] said that the internet was the undoing of Scientology, starting around 1996: "The Internet pulled back the curtain to find Hubbard bare, and caught the [[Office of Special Affairs]] with their pants down ... years later, Anonymous came to Cyber Town and strafed Scientology while they weren't looking." [[Dave Touretzky]], says the Internet still offers "a much-too-convenient source of truth that members turn to when they have doubts about their church".{{r\|hicks}}		According to [[Tony Ortega]], in the 1970s it was easier for Scientology to make scandalous stories disappear. "With limited media outlets to target, Scientology could reasonably expect to control its reputation. Critics could be marginalized or drowned out." With the internet's popularity and mainstreaming, it is more difficult because "the Internet never forgets". [[Mark Ebner]] said that the internet was the undoing of Scientology, starting around 1996: "The Internet pulled back the curtain to find Hubbard bare, and caught the [[Office of Special Affairs]] with their pants down ... years later, Anonymous came to Cyber Town and strafed Scientology while they weren't looking." [[Dave Touretzky]], says the Internet still offers "a much-too-convenient source of truth that members turn to when they have doubts about their church".{{r\|hicks}}

Grorp at 14:05, 4 July 2024

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	{{short description\|War between Scientology and netizens}}		{{short description\|War between Scientology and netizens}}
	{{update\|date=December 2018\|talksection=Is Update tag still needed?}}
	{{use mdy dates\|date=January 2023}}		{{use mdy dates\|date=January 2023}}
	{{Infobox civil conflict		{{Infobox civil conflict

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redistribute see-alsos

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	== Scientology's online campaign ==		== Scientology's online campaign ==

			{{See also\|Sporgery\|Chilling Effects\|Scieno Sitter\|Trapped in the Closet (South Park episode)\|Church of Scientology editing on Wikipedia}}
	After failing to remove the newsgroup, Scientologists adopted a strategy of newsgroup spam and intimidation.<ref name="flames">{{cite news\|first=Colman \|last=Jones \|title=Freedom Flames Out on the 'Net - Who launched the largest-ever sabotage of the Internet? \|url=http://www.nowtoronto.com/issues/15/44/News/feature.html \|newspaper=[[Now (newspaper)\|NOW]] \|date=1996-07-04 \|access-date=2006-12-03 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080129101614/http://www.nowtoronto.com/issues/15/44/News/feature.html \|archive-date=2008-01-29 }}</ref> Scientologists hired third parties to regularly flood the newsgroup with pro-scientology messages, vague anti-scientology messages, irrelevant comments, and accusations that other posters are secret Scientologists intent on tracking and punishing posters. This makes the newsgroup virtually unreadable via online readers such as [[Google Groups]], although more specialized newsreading software that can [[Kill file\|filter out all messages]] by specific "high noise" posters make the newsgroup more usable.		After failing to remove the newsgroup, Scientologists adopted a strategy of newsgroup spam and intimidation.<ref name="flames">{{cite news\|first=Colman \|last=Jones \|title=Freedom Flames Out on the 'Net - Who launched the largest-ever sabotage of the Internet? \|url=http://www.nowtoronto.com/issues/15/44/News/feature.html \|newspaper=[[Now (newspaper)\|NOW]] \|date=1996-07-04 \|access-date=2006-12-03 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080129101614/http://www.nowtoronto.com/issues/15/44/News/feature.html \|archive-date=2008-01-29 }}</ref> Scientologists hired third parties to regularly flood the newsgroup with pro-scientology messages, vague anti-scientology messages, irrelevant comments, and accusations that other posters are secret Scientologists intent on tracking and punishing posters. This makes the newsgroup virtually unreadable via online readers such as [[Google Groups]], although more specialized newsreading software that can [[Kill file\|filter out all messages]] by specific "high noise" posters make the newsgroup more usable.

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	== See also ==		== See also ==
	* [[~~Andreas~~ ~~Heldal-Lund~~]]		* [[Streisand effect]]
	* [[Chilling effect]]
	* [[List of trademarks owned by the Church of Scientology and its affiliates]]
	* [[Project Chanology]]
	* [[Scamizdat]]
	* [[Scieno Sitter]]
	* [[Scientology and law]]
	* [[Scientology controversies]]
	* [[Sporgery]]
	* [[Streisand effect]] – a similar situation
	* [[Church of Scientology editing on Wikipedia]]

	== References ==		== References ==
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	* {{cite web \| first = Jennifer \| last = Bjorhus \| title = Scientology Critics Claim Harassment For Using Internet \| url = http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=2138183&date=19950826 \| work = [[Seattle Times]] \| date = 1995-08-26 \| access-date = 2008-10-14 }}		* {{cite web \| first = Jennifer \| last = Bjorhus \| title = Scientology Critics Claim Harassment For Using Internet \| url = http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=2138183&date=19950826 \| work = [[Seattle Times]] \| date = 1995-08-26 \| access-date = 2008-10-14 }}
	* {{Cite web \|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-23273109 \|title=How Scientology changed the internet \|date=17 July 2013 \|first=Dave \|last=Lee \|work=[[BBC News]]}}		* {{Cite web \|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-23273109 \|title=How Scientology changed the internet \|date=17 July 2013 \|first=Dave \|last=Lee \|work=[[BBC News]]}}
			* {{Cite web \|title=Before "Going Clear," WikiLeaks Was One of Scientology's First Major Threats \|url=https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/a/jason-duaine-hahn/scientology-going-clear-wikileaks \|first=Jason Duaine \|last=Hahn \|date=March 29, 2015 \|work=[[Complex Networks\|Complex]]}}
			* {{Cite web \|title=Scientology's Internet Wars \|url=https://www.watchman.org/articles/scientology/scientologys-internet-wars/ \|date=1996 \|website=Watchman Fellowship}}

	== External links ==		== External links ==

Grorp at 13:23, 4 July 2024

2024-07-04T13:23:30Z

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	* In 1995 Scientology caused a raid on the servers of Dutch Internet provider [[XS4ALL]] and sued it and [[Karin Spaink]] for copyright violations arising from published excerpts from confidential materials. There followed a summary judgment in 1995, full proceedings in 1999, an appeal in 2003<ref name="spainking">{{cite web \|url = http://news.cnet.com/2100-1028_3-5072581.html \|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110616205912/http://news.cnet.com/2100-1028_3-5072581.html \|url-status = dead \|archive-date = 2011-06-16 \|title = Scientology loss keeps hyperlinks legal \|access-date = 2007-08-10 \|last = Hines \|first = Matt \|date = 2003-09-08 \|work = [[CNET]] }}</ref><ref name="LosesRegister">{{cite web		* In 1995 Scientology caused a raid on the servers of Dutch Internet provider [[XS4ALL]] and sued it and [[Karin Spaink]] for copyright violations arising from published excerpts from confidential materials. There followed a summary judgment in 1995, full proceedings in 1999, an appeal in 2003<ref name="spainking">{{cite web \|url = http://news.cnet.com/2100-1028_3-5072581.html \|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110616205912/http://news.cnet.com/2100-1028_3-5072581.html \|url-status = dead \|archive-date = 2011-06-16 \|title = Scientology loss keeps hyperlinks legal \|access-date = 2007-08-10 \|last = Hines \|first = Matt \|date = 2003-09-08 \|work = [[CNET]] }}</ref><ref name="LosesRegister">{{cite web
	\|url = https://www.theregister.co.uk/2003/09/08/scientologists_loses_copyright_case/ \|title = Scientologists loses copyright case \|access-date = 2007-08-10 \|last = Libbenga \|first = Jan \|date = 2003-09-08 \|website = [[The Register]]}}</ref> which has been upheld by the Supreme Court of Netherlands in December 2005, all in favor of the provider and Karin Spaink.<ref name="xs4allpr">[http://www.religionnewsblog.com/13054/final-victory-xs4all-and-karin-spaink-win-scientology-battle Final Victory! XS4ALL and Karin Spaink Win Scientology Battle], Press Release, December 16, 2005</ref>		\|url = https://www.theregister.co.uk/2003/09/08/scientologists_loses_copyright_case/ \|title = Scientologists loses copyright case \|access-date = 2007-08-10 \|last = Libbenga \|first = Jan \|date = 2003-09-08 \|website = [[The Register]]}}</ref> which has been upheld by the Supreme Court of Netherlands in December 2005, all in favor of the provider and Karin Spaink.<ref name="xs4allpr">[http://www.religionnewsblog.com/13054/final-victory-xs4all-and-karin-spaink-win-scientology-battle Final Victory! XS4ALL and Karin Spaink Win Scientology Battle], Press Release, December 16, 2005</ref>
	* [[Dennis Erlich]] and Scientology settled their lawsuits. Erlich withdrew from the online battle entirely, and all mention of him was removed from Church of Scientology material.<ref name="Net.Wars"/>{{Rp\|1, 4, 6–9}}<ref name="erlichfree"/>		* [[Dennis Erlich]] and Scientology settled their lawsuits. Erlich withdrew from the online battle entirely, and all mention of him was removed from Church of Scientology material.<ref name="Net.Wars"/>{{Rp\|1, 4, 6–9}}<ref name="erlichfree"/><ref>{{Cite web \|url=http://home.snafu.de/tilman/mystory/dennis_final_judgement.txt \|title='''RTC v. Dennis Erlich'' Stipulated Final Judgement and Permanent Injunction}}</ref>
	* Activist [[Keith Henson]] was sued for posting a portion of Scientology's writings to the Internet. Henson defended himself in court without a lawyer, while at the same time he carried out protests and pickets against Scientology. The court found that Henson had committed copyright infringement, and the damage award against Henson was $75,000, an amount which Scientology said was the largest damages ever awarded against an individual for copyright infringement. Henson's case became increasingly more complex and ongoing, with a misdemeanor conviction of interfering with religion in [[Riverside County, California]]. In his Internet writings, Henson said that he was forced to flee the United States and seek [[political asylum\|asylum]] in Canada due to ongoing threats against him.<ref name="Net.Wars"/><ref>{{cite web \|url = http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_6320693 \|title = Scientology critic seeks pardon \|access-date = 2007-08-11\|last = Zapler\|first = Mike \|date = 2007-07-07\|work = [[San Jose Mercury News]]}}</ref>{{Rp\|10}}		* Activist [[Keith Henson]] was sued for posting a portion of Scientology's writings to the Internet. Henson defended himself in court without a lawyer, while at the same time he carried out protests and pickets against Scientology. The court found that Henson had committed copyright infringement, and the damage award against Henson was $75,000, an amount which Scientology said was the largest damages ever awarded against an individual for copyright infringement. Henson's case became increasingly more complex and ongoing, with a misdemeanor conviction of interfering with religion in [[Riverside County, California]]. In his Internet writings, Henson said that he was forced to flee the United States and seek [[political asylum\|asylum]] in Canada due to ongoing threats against him.<ref name="Net.Wars"/><ref>{{cite web \|url = http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_6320693 \|title = Scientology critic seeks pardon \|access-date = 2007-08-11\|last = Zapler\|first = Mike \|date = 2007-07-07\|work = [[San Jose Mercury News]]}}</ref>{{Rp\|10}}
	* Scientology was one of the first organizations to make use of the [[Digital Millennium Copyright Act]] (DMCA). In June 1999, Scientology used the controversial law to force [[AT&T Worldnet]] to reveal the identity of a person who had been posting anonymously to ''alt.religion.scientology'' with the pseudonym of "Safe".<ref name="UnSafe">{{cite web \|url = http://news.cnet.com/2100-1023-226676.html \|title = Scientology subpoenas Worldnet \|access-date = 2007-08-10\|last = Goodin\|first = Dan \|date = 1999-06-03\|work = [[CNET]]\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616205921/http://news.cnet.com/2100-1023-226676.html\|archive-date=2011-06-16 }}</ref>		* Scientology was one of the first organizations to make use of the [[Digital Millennium Copyright Act]] (DMCA). In June 1999, Scientology used the controversial law to force [[AT&T Worldnet]] to reveal the identity of a person who had been posting anonymously to ''alt.religion.scientology'' with the pseudonym of "Safe".<ref name="UnSafe">{{cite web \|url = http://news.cnet.com/2100-1023-226676.html \|title = Scientology subpoenas Worldnet \|access-date = 2007-08-10\|last = Goodin\|first = Dan \|date = 1999-06-03\|work = [[CNET]]\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616205921/http://news.cnet.com/2100-1023-226676.html\|archive-date=2011-06-16 }}</ref>
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	== Further reading ==		== Further reading ==
		⚫	* {{Cite web \|url=http://www.discord.org/~lippard/skeptic/03.3.jl-jj-scientology.html \|title=Scientology v. the Internet: Free Speech & Copyright Infringement on the Information Super-Highway \|work=[[Skeptic (American magazine)\|Skeptic]] \|volume=3 \|issue=3 \|date=1995 \|pages=35–41 \|first1=Jim \|last1=Lippard \|author1-link=Jim Lippard \|first2=Jeff \|last2=Jacobsen}}
	{{Refbegin}}

⚫	* [http://www.discord.org/~lippard/skeptic/03.3.jl-jj-scientology.html Scientology v. the Internet: Free Speech & Copyright Infringement on the Information Super-Highway], ''[[Skeptic (American magazine)\|Skeptic]]~~'' vol.~~ 3~~, no.~~ 3, 1995, ~~pp. ~~35–41, [[Jim Lippard]] ~~and~~ Jeff Jacobsen.
	* {{cite web \| first = Jennifer \| last = Bjorhus \| title = Scientology Critics Claim Harassment For Using Internet \| url = http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=2138183&date=19950826 \| work = [[Seattle Times]] \| date = 1995-08-26 \| access-date = 2008-10-14 }}		* {{cite web \| first = Jennifer \| last = Bjorhus \| title = Scientology Critics Claim Harassment For Using Internet \| url = http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=2138183&date=19950826 \| work = [[Seattle Times]] \| date = 1995-08-26 \| access-date = 2008-10-14 }}
		⚫	* {{Cite web \|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-23273109 \|title=How Scientology changed the internet \|date=17 July 2013 \|first=Dave \|last=Lee \|work=[[BBC News]]}}
	{{Refend}}

	== External links ==		== External links ==
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	{{Commons category\|Scientology versus the Internet}}		{{Commons category\|Scientology versus the Internet}}
	* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6KM27TUsvM BBC video: ''Scientology v The Internet'' May 15, 1995]		* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6KM27TUsvM BBC video: ''Scientology v The Internet'' May 15, 1995]
	* [https://w2.eff.org/legal/cases/Scientology_cases/ EFF Electronic Frontier Foundation "Legal Cases - Church of Scientology" ~~Archive] {{Webarchive~~\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202035755/https://w2.eff.org/legal/cases/Scientology_cases/ \|date=2017-02-02 }}		* {{Cite web \|url=https://w2.eff.org/legal/cases/Scientology_cases/ \|website=EFF Electronic Frontier Foundation \|title=Legal Cases - Church of Scientology \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202035755/https://w2.eff.org/legal/cases/Scientology_cases/ \|archive-date=2017-02-02 \|date=March 13, 2003}}
	* [http://machinist.salon.com/blog/2008/01/16/scientology/index.html Scientology ~~Video]~~		* {{Cite web \|url=http://machinist.salon.com/blog/2008/01/16/scientology/index.html \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080306175534/http://machinist.salon.com/blog/2008/01/16/scientology/index.html \|archive-date=March 6, 2008 \|title=Scientology fails to delete crazy Tom Cruise video \|work=Salon \|date=January 16, 2008}}
		⚫	* {{Cite web \|url=http://religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu/nrms/scientology_briefing.html \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060829155933/http://religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu/nrms/scientology_briefing.html \|archive-date=August 29, 2006 \|title=Briefing Re: The Church of Scientology and the Internet \|date=30 June 2000}}
	* [http://www.whyweprotest.net/ Anonymous site stating why they protest]
⚫	* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060829155933/http://religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu/nrms/scientology_briefing.html ~~Briefing~~ ~~prepared~~ by ~~the~~ ~~Church~~ ~~about the~~ Church of Scientology and the ~~internet]~~
	* [http://home.snafu.de/tilman/mystory/dennis_final_judgement.txt '''RTC v. Dennis Erlich'' Stipulated Final Judgement and Permanent Injunction]
⚫	* [https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-23273109 "How Scientology changed the internet"] – 2013 ~~article~~ ~~from~~ [[BBC News]]

	{{Scientology and the Internet\|state=expanded}}		{{Scientology and the Internet\|state=expanded}}

Grorp: add Overview section

2024-07-04T12:49:34Z

add Overview section

← Previous revision		Revision as of 12:49, 4 July 2024
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	Various critics of the Church of Scientology have characterized the organization as a [[confidence trick\|confidence scam]] and say that these secretive writings are proof, or that they contain evidence that the organization's medical practices are [[law\|illegal]] and [[fraudulent]].<ref>Jacobsen, Jeff. [https://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/NOTs/medical/jacobsen-medical.txt Medical claims within Scientology's secret teachings], 1996</ref><ref>O'Connor, Mike. [http://groups.google.com/group/alt.religion.scientology/msg/63a67a019d7e0cb4 "How Scientology claims to cure physical illness"], 2003</ref> Scientology has been convicted of [[fraud]] in the courts of several nations, although not those of the [[United States]]. Others have said that the organization is [[Copyright misuse\|abusing copyright law]] by launching lawsuits against outspoken critics.<ref>[http://www.xenu.net/archive/events/9805henson-case/nots34_anal.html NOTS34: criminality successfully protected by copyright law], [[Tilman Hausherr]] (1998)</ref>		Various critics of the Church of Scientology have characterized the organization as a [[confidence trick\|confidence scam]] and say that these secretive writings are proof, or that they contain evidence that the organization's medical practices are [[law\|illegal]] and [[fraudulent]].<ref>Jacobsen, Jeff. [https://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/NOTs/medical/jacobsen-medical.txt Medical claims within Scientology's secret teachings], 1996</ref><ref>O'Connor, Mike. [http://groups.google.com/group/alt.religion.scientology/msg/63a67a019d7e0cb4 "How Scientology claims to cure physical illness"], 2003</ref> Scientology has been convicted of [[fraud]] in the courts of several nations, although not those of the [[United States]]. Others have said that the organization is [[Copyright misuse\|abusing copyright law]] by launching lawsuits against outspoken critics.<ref>[http://www.xenu.net/archive/events/9805henson-case/nots34_anal.html NOTS34: criminality successfully protected by copyright law], [[Tilman Hausherr]] (1998)</ref>

			== Overview ==

			'''Scientology versus the internet''' was a phrase coined to describe the "war" that the Church of Scientology waged to try to remove their copyrighted materials and secret "advanced technology" from the internet, and to hinder, harass and punish those who used the internet to discuss Scientology and expose abuses. The efforts started in earnest in the 1990s and were effectively abandoned in the late-2000s.{{r\|rinder\|pp=153-156}} Former national spokesman for Scientology [[Robert Vaughn Young]] once said, "I am thankful I'm not having to face the Net. It's going to be to Scientology what Vietnam was to the US."{{r\|alt.scientology.war}}

			At first, Scientology operatives attempted to shut down the main online newsgroup about Scientology. Failing that, they tried to overpower it. When insider information started to appear in droves, the organization identified and focused on several key players, had their premises raided, and filed lawsuits against them. Their efforts to suppress speech about Scientology attracted the attention of [[Anonymous (hacker group)\|Anonymous]] in 2008, who declared their own war against Scientology, called [[Project Chanology]]. And finally with the posting of virtually all Scientology materials online, including with [[WikiLeaks]], internally Scientology conceded they had lost the war.

			In 1994, [[Scientology official]] [[Mike Rinder]] was put on the case when the [[OT Level]]s appeared on the internet.
			{{blockquote\|text=This was a huge flap. ... At the outset, it was unclear who was responsible, and all hands began a frantic effort to nail down the perpetrators. ... We tapped any scientologist who had computer expertise and engage a group of PIs to collect evidence. This was both high priority and highly confidential. ... [Five] people were identified as suspects, and lawsuits were filed against them. In February 1995, federal marshals raided their homes and seized their computers. ... The filing of these lawsuits was a strategic blunder. It set the fledgling internet on fire and activists began appearing from all over, vowing to destroy scientology and end its assault on 'free speech'. [[Religious Technology Center\|RTC]] launched a new — and virtual — assault that scientology has never recovered from: legal threats, lawsuits, and attempted criminal prosecutions proved to be no match for the anonymous worldwide information dissemination vehicle that was the ever-expanding internet. Scientology was losing the battle to keep the OT levels secret, ... databases proliferated containing all copyrighted works, all Hubbard lectures, and then internal scientology documents. ... we soon understood that we were under seige ... [our lawyers] sent out threats to every person who posted the materials, to the [ISPs], and even to the phone companies that gave access to the internet. But that resulted in more sites appearing. It was ultimately a hopeless war ... Eventually, even we had to admit we had lost. We were playing a never-ending game of [[Whac-A-Mole]] — virtually everything ever written by Hubbard or about Scientology has now been posted on the internet. \|author=Mike Rinder {{r\|rinder\|pp=153-156}} }}

			According to [[Tony Ortega]], in the 1970s it was easier for Scientology to make scandalous stories disappear. "With limited media outlets to target, Scientology could reasonably expect to control its reputation. Critics could be marginalized or drowned out." With the internet's popularity and mainstreaming, it is more difficult because "the Internet never forgets". [[Mark Ebner]] said that the internet was the undoing of Scientology, starting around 1996: "The Internet pulled back the curtain to find Hubbard bare, and caught the [[Office of Special Affairs]] with their pants down ... years later, Anonymous came to Cyber Town and strafed Scientology while they weren't looking." [[Dave Touretzky]], says the Internet still offers "a much-too-convenient source of truth that members turn to when they have doubts about their church".{{r\|hicks}}

	== alt.religion.scientology ==		== alt.religion.scientology ==
	Scott Goehring set up the [[newsgroup]] ''[[alt.religion.scientology]]'' in 1991, partly as a joke, partly for the purpose of informing the public about Scientology.<ref name="Net.Wars"/> Debate over the pros and cons of Scientology waxed and waned on the newsgroup through the first three years of its existence, and [[Flaming (Internet)\|flame wars]] flared up commonly, as they did on some other newsgroups.{{r\|alt.scientology.war}}		Scott Goehring set up the [[newsgroup]] ''[[alt.religion.scientology]]'' in 1991, partly as a joke, partly for the purpose of informing the public about Scientology.<ref name="Net.Wars"/> Debate over the pros and cons of Scientology waxed and waned on the newsgroup through the first three years of its existence, and [[Flaming (Internet)\|flame wars]] flared up commonly, as they did on some other newsgroups.{{r\|alt.scientology.war}}

	The online battle is generally regarded as having begun with the arrival of Dennis Erlich to ''alt.religion.scientology'' in late July 1994. A former high-ranking official in the Scientology organization who had been personally affiliated with L. Ron Hubbard, he caused a number of regular participants in the newsgroup to sit up and take notice.<ref name="Net.Wars"/>{{Rp\|4, 6}}{{r\|alt.scientology.war}}		The online battle is generally regarded as having begun with the arrival of [[Dennis Erlich]] to ''alt.religion.scientology'' in late July 1994. A former high-ranking official in the Scientology organization who had been personally affiliated with L. Ron Hubbard, he caused a number of regular participants in the newsgroup to sit up and take notice.<ref name="Net.Wars"/>{{Rp\|4, 6}}{{r\|alt.scientology.war}}

	=== The Xenu revelation ===		=== The Xenu revelation ===
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	== Raids and lawsuits ==		== Raids and lawsuits ==
	Shortly after the initial legal announcements and ''rmgroup'' attempt, representatives of Scientology followed through with a series of [[lawsuit]]s against various participants on the newsgroup, including Dennis Erlich, in ''[[Religious Technology Center v. Netcom]]''.		Shortly after the initial legal announcements and ''rmgroup'' attempt, representatives of Scientology followed through with a series of [[lawsuit]]s against various participants on the newsgroup, including Dennis Erlich, in ''[[Religious Technology Center v. Netcom On-Line Communication Services, Inc.]]''

	The first raid took place on February 13, 1995.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.spaink.net/cos/rnewman/erlich/home.html\|title=The Church of Scientology vs. Dennis Erlich, Tom Klemesrud & Netcom}}</ref> Accompanied by Scientology lawyers, federal marshals made several raids on the homes of individuals who were accused of posting Scientology's copyrighted materials to the newsgroup. Raids took place against [[Arnaldo Lerma]] ~~([[~~Virginia~~]])~~,<ref name="gospeloftheweb">{{cite news \| first = Nick \| last = Ryan \| title = The Gospel of the Web \| url = https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2000/mar/23/religion.internet \|newspaper = [[The Guardian]]; Technology \| date = 2000-03-23 \| access-date = 2007-10-12 \| location=London}}</ref> [[Lawrence A. Wollersheim]] and Robert Penny of [[FACTNet]] ~~([[~~Colorado~~]])~~, and Dennis Erlich ~~([[~~California~~]])~~. Internationally, raids took place against [[Karin Spaink]] (The Netherlands) and [[Zenon Panoussis]] (Sweden).{{r\|rinder\|page=153}}		The first raid took place on February 13, 1995.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.spaink.net/cos/rnewman/erlich/home.html\|title=The Church of Scientology vs. Dennis Erlich, Tom Klemesrud & Netcom}}</ref> Accompanied by Scientology lawyers, federal marshals made several raids on the homes of individuals who were accused of posting Scientology's copyrighted materials to the newsgroup. Raids took place against [[Arnaldo Lerma]] in Virginia,<ref name="gospeloftheweb">{{cite news \| first = Nick \| last = Ryan \| title = The Gospel of the Web \| url = https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2000/mar/23/religion.internet \|newspaper = [[The Guardian]]; Technology \| date = 2000-03-23 \| access-date = 2007-10-12 \| location=London}}</ref> [[Lawrence A. Wollersheim]] and Robert Penny of [[FACTNet]] in Colorado, and Dennis Erlich in California. Internationally, raids took place against [[Karin Spaink]] in The Netherlands and [[Zenon Panoussis]] in Sweden.{{r\|rinder\|page=153}}

	In addition to filing lawsuits against individuals, Scientology also sued the ''[[Washington Post]]'' for reprinting one paragraph of the OT writings in a newspaper article, as well as several [[Internet service provider]]s, including [[Netcom (USA)\|Netcom]], Tom Klemesrud, and [[XS4ALL]]. It also regularly demanded the deletion of material from the [[Deja News]] archive.		In addition to filing lawsuits against individuals, Scientology also sued the ''[[Washington Post]]'' for reprinting one paragraph of the OT writings in a newspaper article, as well as several [[Internet service provider]]s, including [[Netcom (USA)\|Netcom]], Tom Klemesrud, and [[XS4ALL]]. It also regularly demanded the deletion of material from the [[Deja News]] archive.
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	* In 1995 Scientology caused a raid on the servers of Dutch Internet provider [[XS4ALL]] and sued it and [[Karin Spaink]] for copyright violations arising from published excerpts from confidential materials. There followed a summary judgment in 1995, full proceedings in 1999, an appeal in 2003<ref name="spainking">{{cite web \|url = http://news.cnet.com/2100-1028_3-5072581.html \|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110616205912/http://news.cnet.com/2100-1028_3-5072581.html \|url-status = dead \|archive-date = 2011-06-16 \|title = Scientology loss keeps hyperlinks legal \|access-date = 2007-08-10 \|last = Hines \|first = Matt \|date = 2003-09-08 \|work = [[CNET]] }}</ref><ref name="LosesRegister">{{cite web		* In 1995 Scientology caused a raid on the servers of Dutch Internet provider [[XS4ALL]] and sued it and [[Karin Spaink]] for copyright violations arising from published excerpts from confidential materials. There followed a summary judgment in 1995, full proceedings in 1999, an appeal in 2003<ref name="spainking">{{cite web \|url = http://news.cnet.com/2100-1028_3-5072581.html \|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110616205912/http://news.cnet.com/2100-1028_3-5072581.html \|url-status = dead \|archive-date = 2011-06-16 \|title = Scientology loss keeps hyperlinks legal \|access-date = 2007-08-10 \|last = Hines \|first = Matt \|date = 2003-09-08 \|work = [[CNET]] }}</ref><ref name="LosesRegister">{{cite web
	\|url = https://www.theregister.co.uk/2003/09/08/scientologists_loses_copyright_case/ \|title = Scientologists loses copyright case \|access-date = 2007-08-10 \|last = Libbenga \|first = Jan \|date = 2003-09-08 \|website = [[The Register]]}}</ref> which has been upheld by the Supreme Court of Netherlands in December 2005, all in favor of the provider and Karin Spaink.<ref name="xs4allpr">[http://www.religionnewsblog.com/13054/final-victory-xs4all-and-karin-spaink-win-scientology-battle Final Victory! XS4ALL and Karin Spaink Win Scientology Battle], Press Release, December 16, 2005</ref>		\|url = https://www.theregister.co.uk/2003/09/08/scientologists_loses_copyright_case/ \|title = Scientologists loses copyright case \|access-date = 2007-08-10 \|last = Libbenga \|first = Jan \|date = 2003-09-08 \|website = [[The Register]]}}</ref> which has been upheld by the Supreme Court of Netherlands in December 2005, all in favor of the provider and Karin Spaink.<ref name="xs4allpr">[http://www.religionnewsblog.com/13054/final-victory-xs4all-and-karin-spaink-win-scientology-battle Final Victory! XS4ALL and Karin Spaink Win Scientology Battle], Press Release, December 16, 2005</ref>
	* Dennis Erlich and Scientology settled their lawsuits. Erlich withdrew from the online battle entirely, and all mention of him was removed from Church of Scientology material.<ref name="Net.Wars"/>{{Rp\|1, 4, 6–9}}<ref name="erlichfree"/>		* [[Dennis Erlich]] and Scientology settled their lawsuits. Erlich withdrew from the online battle entirely, and all mention of him was removed from Church of Scientology material.<ref name="Net.Wars"/>{{Rp\|1, 4, 6–9}}<ref name="erlichfree"/>
	* Activist [[Keith Henson]] was sued for posting a portion of Scientology's writings to the Internet. Henson defended himself in court without a lawyer, while at the same time he carried out protests and pickets against Scientology. The court found that Henson had committed copyright infringement, and the damage award against Henson was $75,000, an amount which Scientology said was the largest damages ever awarded against an individual for copyright infringement. Henson's case became increasingly more complex and ongoing, with a misdemeanor conviction of interfering with religion in [[Riverside County, California]]. In his Internet writings, Henson said that he was forced to flee the United States and seek [[political asylum\|asylum]] in Canada due to ongoing threats against him.<ref name="Net.Wars"/><ref>{{cite web \|url = http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_6320693 \|title = Scientology critic seeks pardon \|access-date = 2007-08-11\|last = Zapler\|first = Mike \|date = 2007-07-07\|work = [[San Jose Mercury News]]}}</ref>{{Rp\|10}}		* Activist [[Keith Henson]] was sued for posting a portion of Scientology's writings to the Internet. Henson defended himself in court without a lawyer, while at the same time he carried out protests and pickets against Scientology. The court found that Henson had committed copyright infringement, and the damage award against Henson was $75,000, an amount which Scientology said was the largest damages ever awarded against an individual for copyright infringement. Henson's case became increasingly more complex and ongoing, with a misdemeanor conviction of interfering with religion in [[Riverside County, California]]. In his Internet writings, Henson said that he was forced to flee the United States and seek [[political asylum\|asylum]] in Canada due to ongoing threats against him.<ref name="Net.Wars"/><ref>{{cite web \|url = http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_6320693 \|title = Scientology critic seeks pardon \|access-date = 2007-08-11\|last = Zapler\|first = Mike \|date = 2007-07-07\|work = [[San Jose Mercury News]]}}</ref>{{Rp\|10}}
	* Scientology was one of the first organizations to make use of the [[Digital Millennium Copyright Act]] (DMCA). In June 1999, Scientology used the controversial law to force [[AT&T Worldnet]] to reveal the identity of a person who had been posting anonymously to ''alt.religion.scientology'' with the pseudonym of "Safe".<ref name="UnSafe">{{cite web \|url = http://news.cnet.com/2100-1023-226676.html \|title = Scientology subpoenas Worldnet \|access-date = 2007-08-10\|last = Goodin\|first = Dan \|date = 1999-06-03\|work = [[CNET]]\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616205921/http://news.cnet.com/2100-1023-226676.html\|archive-date=2011-06-16 }}</ref>		* Scientology was one of the first organizations to make use of the [[Digital Millennium Copyright Act]] (DMCA). In June 1999, Scientology used the controversial law to force [[AT&T Worldnet]] to reveal the identity of a person who had been posting anonymously to ''alt.religion.scientology'' with the pseudonym of "Safe".<ref name="UnSafe">{{cite web \|url = http://news.cnet.com/2100-1023-226676.html \|title = Scientology subpoenas Worldnet \|access-date = 2007-08-10\|last = Goodin\|first = Dan \|date = 1999-06-03\|work = [[CNET]]\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616205921/http://news.cnet.com/2100-1023-226676.html\|archive-date=2011-06-16 }}</ref>
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	<ref name="alt.scientology.war"> {{cite magazine \|url=https://www.wired.com/1995/12/alt-scientology-war/ \|title=alt.scientology.war \|last=Grossman \|first=Wendy M. \|author-link=Wendy M. Grossman \|date=December 1, 1995 \|magazine=[[Wired magazine]] \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990423192737/http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/3.12/alt.scientology.war_pr.html \|archive-date=April 23, 1999 \|url-status=live}}</ref>		<ref name="alt.scientology.war"> {{cite magazine \|url=https://www.wired.com/1995/12/alt-scientology-war/ \|title=alt.scientology.war \|last=Grossman \|first=Wendy M. \|author-link=Wendy M. Grossman \|date=December 1, 1995 \|magazine=[[Wired magazine]] \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990423192737/http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/3.12/alt.scientology.war_pr.html \|archive-date=April 23, 1999 \|url-status=live}}</ref>

			<ref name="hicks">{{Cite web \|title=How the Church of Scientology fought the Internet—and why it lost \|date=September 20, 2015 \|first=Jesse \|last=Hicks \|url=https://kernelmag.dailydot.com/issue-sections/features-issue-sections/14384/scientology-versus-the-internet-going-clear/ \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201113044635/https://kernelmag.dailydot.com/issue-sections/features-issue-sections/14384/scientology-versus-the-internet-going-clear/ \|archive-date=November 13, 2020 \|work=[[The Kernel]]}}</ref>

	<ref name="rinder">{{cite book \|title=A Billion Years: My Escape From a Life in the Highest Ranks of Scientology \|first=Mike \|last=Rinder \|author-link=Mike Rinder \|year=2022 \|publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]] \|isbn=9781982185763}}</ref>		<ref name="rinder">{{cite book \|title=A Billion Years: My Escape From a Life in the Highest Ranks of Scientology \|first=Mike \|last=Rinder \|author-link=Mike Rinder \|year=2022 \|publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]] \|isbn=9781982185763}}</ref>
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	* [http://www.discord.org/~lippard/skeptic/03.3.jl-jj-scientology.html Scientology v. the Internet: Free Speech & Copyright Infringement on the Information Super-Highway], ''[[Skeptic (American magazine)\|Skeptic]]'' vol. 3, no. 3, 1995, pp. 35–41, [[Jim Lippard]] and Jeff Jacobsen.		* [http://www.discord.org/~lippard/skeptic/03.3.jl-jj-scientology.html Scientology v. the Internet: Free Speech & Copyright Infringement on the Information Super-Highway], ''[[Skeptic (American magazine)\|Skeptic]]'' vol. 3, no. 3, 1995, pp. 35–41, [[Jim Lippard]] and Jeff Jacobsen.
	* {{cite magazine \| first = Wendy M. \| last = Grossman \| title = alt.scientology.war \| url = https://www.wired.com/wired/archive/3.12/alt.scientology.war.html \| magazine = [[Wired (magazine)\|Wired]] \| date = 1995-12-01 \| access-date = 2008-10-14 }}
	* {{cite web \| first = Jennifer \| last = Bjorhus \| title = Scientology Critics Claim Harassment For Using Internet \| url = http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=2138183&date=19950826 \| work = [[Seattle Times]] \| date = 1995-08-26 \| access-date = 2008-10-14 }}		* {{cite web \| first = Jennifer \| last = Bjorhus \| title = Scientology Critics Claim Harassment For Using Internet \| url = http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=2138183&date=19950826 \| work = [[Seattle Times]] \| date = 1995-08-26 \| access-date = 2008-10-14 }}
	{{Refend}}		{{Refend}}

Grorp at 10:38, 4 July 2024

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	== alt.religion.scientology ==		== alt.religion.scientology ==
	Scott Goehring set up the [[newsgroup]] ''[[alt.religion.scientology]]'' in 1991, partly as a joke, partly for the purpose of informing the public about Scientology.<ref name="Net.Wars"/> Debate over the pros and cons of Scientology waxed and waned on the newsgroup through the first three years of its existence, and [[Flaming (Internet)\|flame wars]] flared up commonly, as they did on some other newsgroups.~~<ref name="~~alt.scientology.war~~" />~~		Scott Goehring set up the [[newsgroup]] ''[[alt.religion.scientology]]'' in 1991, partly as a joke, partly for the purpose of informing the public about Scientology.<ref name="Net.Wars"/> Debate over the pros and cons of Scientology waxed and waned on the newsgroup through the first three years of its existence, and [[Flaming (Internet)\|flame wars]] flared up commonly, as they did on some other newsgroups.{{r\|alt.scientology.war}}

	The online battle is generally regarded as having begun with the arrival of Dennis Erlich to ''alt.religion.scientology'' in late July 1994. A former high-ranking official in the Scientology organization who had been personally affiliated with L. Ron Hubbard, he caused a number of regular participants in the newsgroup to sit up and take notice.<ref name="Net.Wars"/>{{Rp\|4, 6}}~~<ref name="~~alt.scientology.war">		The online battle is generally regarded as having begun with the arrival of Dennis Erlich to ''alt.religion.scientology'' in late July 1994. A former high-ranking official in the Scientology organization who had been personally affiliated with L. Ron Hubbard, he caused a number of regular participants in the newsgroup to sit up and take notice.<ref name="Net.Wars"/>{{Rp\|4, 6}}{{r\|alt.scientology.war}}
	{{cite magazine
	\| url = https://www.wired.com/wired/archive/3.12/alt.scientology.war.html
	\| title = alt.scientology.war
	\| access-date = 2007-07-19
	\| last = Grossman
	\| first = Wendy M.
	\| author-link = Wendy M. Grossman
	\| date=December 2005
	\| magazine = [[Wired magazine]]
	\| pages = 3
	\| quote = His critical posts, with quotations from the church literature, turned alt.religion.scientology from debating club to battlefield.
	}}
	</ref>

	=== The Xenu revelation ===		=== The Xenu revelation ===
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	== References ==		== References ==
	{{Reflist\|refs=		{{Reflist\|refs=

			<ref name="alt.scientology.war"> {{cite magazine \|url=https://www.wired.com/1995/12/alt-scientology-war/ \|title=alt.scientology.war \|last=Grossman \|first=Wendy M. \|author-link=Wendy M. Grossman \|date=December 1, 1995 \|magazine=[[Wired magazine]] \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990423192737/http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/3.12/alt.scientology.war_pr.html \|archive-date=April 23, 1999 \|url-status=live}}</ref>

	<ref name="rinder">{{cite book \|title=A Billion Years: My Escape From a Life in the Highest Ranks of Scientology \|first=Mike \|last=Rinder \|author-link=Mike Rinder \|year=2022 \|publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]] \|isbn=9781982185763}}</ref>		<ref name="rinder">{{cite book \|title=A Billion Years: My Escape From a Life in the Highest Ranks of Scientology \|first=Mike \|last=Rinder \|author-link=Mike Rinder \|year=2022 \|publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]] \|isbn=9781982185763}}</ref>

Grorp at 09:12, 4 July 2024

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	Calling the action by the Church of Scientology a form of [[Internet censorship]], members of Project Chanology organized a series of [[denial-of-service attack]]s against Scientology websites, [[prank calls]], and [[black fax]]es to Scientology centers.<ref>{{cite news\|author1=Matthew A. Schroettnig \|author2=Stefanie Herrington \|author3=Lauren E. Trent \|title=Anonymous Versus Scientology: Cyber Criminals or Vigilante Justice? \|date=2008-02-06 \|url=http://www.thelegality.com/archives/22 \|work=The Legality \|access-date=2008-01-25 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705202321/http://www.thelegality.com/archives/22 \|archive-date=2008-07-05 }}</ref>		Calling the action by the Church of Scientology a form of [[Internet censorship]], members of Project Chanology organized a series of [[denial-of-service attack]]s against Scientology websites, [[prank calls]], and [[black fax]]es to Scientology centers.<ref>{{cite news\|author1=Matthew A. Schroettnig \|author2=Stefanie Herrington \|author3=Lauren E. Trent \|title=Anonymous Versus Scientology: Cyber Criminals or Vigilante Justice? \|date=2008-02-06 \|url=http://www.thelegality.com/archives/22 \|work=The Legality \|access-date=2008-01-25 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705202321/http://www.thelegality.com/archives/22 \|archive-date=2008-07-05 }}</ref>

	[[File:Message to Scientology.ogv\|thumb~~\|left~~\|"Message to Scientology", January 21, 2008]]		[[File:Message to Scientology.ogv\|thumb\|"Message to Scientology", January 21, 2008]]

	On January 21, 2008, Anonymous announced its goals and intentions via a video posted to YouTube titled "Message to Scientology", and a [[press release]] declaring a "War on Scientology" against both the Church of Scientology and the [[Religious Technology Center]].<ref name="chanenterprises" /><ref name="thomas">{{cite news \| last =Thomas \| first =Nicki \| title =Scientology and the internet: Internet hackers attack the church \| work =[[Edmonton Sun]] \| publisher =Sun Media \| date =January 25, 2008 \| url =http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Edmonton/2008/01/25/4794425.html \| access-date =2008-01-25 \| url-status =dead \| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20080129090731/http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Edmonton/2008/01/25/4794425.html \| archive-date =January 29, 2008 }}</ref><ref name="dodd">{{cite news \| editor-last =Dodd \| editor-first =Gareth \|agency=Agencies \| title =Anonymous hackers vow to "dismantle" Scientology \| work =[[Xinhua News Agency]] \| date =January 25, 2008 \| url =http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-01/25/content_7495986.htm \| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20080128170633/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-01/25/content_7495986.htm \| url-status =dead \| archive-date =January 28, 2008 \| access-date = 2008-01-25 }}</ref>		On January 21, 2008, Anonymous announced its goals and intentions via a video posted to YouTube titled "Message to Scientology", and a [[press release]] declaring a "War on Scientology" against both the Church of Scientology and the [[Religious Technology Center]].<ref name="chanenterprises" /><ref name="thomas">{{cite news \| last =Thomas \| first =Nicki \| title =Scientology and the internet: Internet hackers attack the church \| work =[[Edmonton Sun]] \| publisher =Sun Media \| date =January 25, 2008 \| url =http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Edmonton/2008/01/25/4794425.html \| access-date =2008-01-25 \| url-status =dead \| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20080129090731/http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Edmonton/2008/01/25/4794425.html \| archive-date =January 29, 2008 }}</ref><ref name="dodd">{{cite news \| editor-last =Dodd \| editor-first =Gareth \|agency=Agencies \| title =Anonymous hackers vow to "dismantle" Scientology \| work =[[Xinhua News Agency]] \| date =January 25, 2008 \| url =http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-01/25/content_7495986.htm \| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20080128170633/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-01/25/content_7495986.htm \| url-status =dead \| archive-date =January 28, 2008 \| access-date = 2008-01-25 }}</ref>

Grorp at 10:14, 14 April 2024

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	\| partof = [[Scientology controversies]]		\| partof = [[Scientology controversies]]
	\| image = [[File:Scientology versus the Internet.png\|300px]]		\| image = [[File:Scientology versus the Internet.png\|300px]]
	\| caption = Counterclockwise from above: [[Project Chanology\|Protest]] by an Internet group calling itself '[[Anonymous (group)\|Anonymous]]' against the practices and tax status of the Church of Scientology; Monument-style sign in front of the Founding Church of Scientology in Washington DC; Screenshot of error message when attempting to load www.scientology.org on January 25, 2008.		\| caption = Counterclockwise from above: [[Project Chanology\|Protest]] by an Internet group calling itself '[[Anonymous (group)\|Anonymous]]' against the practices and tax status of the Church of Scientology; Monument-style sign in front of the [[Founding Church of Scientology]] in Washington DC; Screenshot of error message when attempting to load www.scientology.org on January 25, 2008.
	\| place = Internet, courts of law, worldwide protests		\| place = Internet, courts of law, worldwide protests
	\| status = ongoing		\| status = ongoing

← Previous revision		Revision as of 12:49, 4 July 2024
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	Various critics of the Church of Scientology have characterized the organization as a [[confidence trick\|confidence scam]] and say that these secretive writings are proof, or that they contain evidence that the organization's medical practices are [[law\|illegal]] and [[fraudulent]].<ref>Jacobsen, Jeff. [https://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/NOTs/medical/jacobsen-medical.txt Medical claims within Scientology's secret teachings], 1996</ref><ref>O'Connor, Mike. [http://groups.google.com/group/alt.religion.scientology/msg/63a67a019d7e0cb4 "How Scientology claims to cure physical illness"], 2003</ref> Scientology has been convicted of [[fraud]] in the courts of several nations, although not those of the [[United States]]. Others have said that the organization is [[Copyright misuse\|abusing copyright law]] by launching lawsuits against outspoken critics.<ref>[http://www.xenu.net/archive/events/9805henson-case/nots34_anal.html NOTS34: criminality successfully protected by copyright law], [[Tilman Hausherr]] (1998)</ref>		Various critics of the Church of Scientology have characterized the organization as a [[confidence trick\|confidence scam]] and say that these secretive writings are proof, or that they contain evidence that the organization's medical practices are [[law\|illegal]] and [[fraudulent]].<ref>Jacobsen, Jeff. [https://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/NOTs/medical/jacobsen-medical.txt Medical claims within Scientology's secret teachings], 1996</ref><ref>O'Connor, Mike. [http://groups.google.com/group/alt.religion.scientology/msg/63a67a019d7e0cb4 "How Scientology claims to cure physical illness"], 2003</ref> Scientology has been convicted of [[fraud]] in the courts of several nations, although not those of the [[United States]]. Others have said that the organization is [[Copyright misuse\|abusing copyright law]] by launching lawsuits against outspoken critics.<ref>[http://www.xenu.net/archive/events/9805henson-case/nots34_anal.html NOTS34: criminality successfully protected by copyright law], [[Tilman Hausherr]] (1998)</ref>

			== Overview ==

			'''Scientology versus the internet''' was a phrase coined to describe the "war" that the Church of Scientology waged to try to remove their copyrighted materials and secret "advanced technology" from the internet, and to hinder, harass and punish those who used the internet to discuss Scientology and expose abuses. The efforts started in earnest in the 1990s and were effectively abandoned in the late-2000s.{{r\|rinder\|pp=153-156}} Former national spokesman for Scientology [[Robert Vaughn Young]] once said, "I am thankful I'm not having to face the Net. It's going to be to Scientology what Vietnam was to the US."{{r\|alt.scientology.war}}

			At first, Scientology operatives attempted to shut down the main online newsgroup about Scientology. Failing that, they tried to overpower it. When insider information started to appear in droves, the organization identified and focused on several key players, had their premises raided, and filed lawsuits against them. Their efforts to suppress speech about Scientology attracted the attention of [[Anonymous (hacker group)\|Anonymous]] in 2008, who declared their own war against Scientology, called [[Project Chanology]]. And finally with the posting of virtually all Scientology materials online, including with [[WikiLeaks]], internally Scientology conceded they had lost the war.

			In 1994, [[Scientology official]] [[Mike Rinder]] was put on the case when the [[OT Level]]s appeared on the internet.
			{{blockquote\|text=This was a huge flap. ... At the outset, it was unclear who was responsible, and all hands began a frantic effort to nail down the perpetrators. ... We tapped any scientologist who had computer expertise and engage a group of PIs to collect evidence. This was both high priority and highly confidential. ... [Five] people were identified as suspects, and lawsuits were filed against them. In February 1995, federal marshals raided their homes and seized their computers. ... The filing of these lawsuits was a strategic blunder. It set the fledgling internet on fire and activists began appearing from all over, vowing to destroy scientology and end its assault on 'free speech'. [[Religious Technology Center\|RTC]] launched a new — and virtual — assault that scientology has never recovered from: legal threats, lawsuits, and attempted criminal prosecutions proved to be no match for the anonymous worldwide information dissemination vehicle that was the ever-expanding internet. Scientology was losing the battle to keep the OT levels secret, ... databases proliferated containing all copyrighted works, all Hubbard lectures, and then internal scientology documents. ... we soon understood that we were under seige ... [our lawyers] sent out threats to every person who posted the materials, to the [ISPs], and even to the phone companies that gave access to the internet. But that resulted in more sites appearing. It was ultimately a hopeless war ... Eventually, even we had to admit we had lost. We were playing a never-ending game of [[Whac-A-Mole]] — virtually everything ever written by Hubbard or about Scientology has now been posted on the internet. \|author=Mike Rinder {{r\|rinder\|pp=153-156}} }}

			According to [[Tony Ortega]], in the 1970s it was easier for Scientology to make scandalous stories disappear. "With limited media outlets to target, Scientology could reasonably expect to control its reputation. Critics could be marginalized or drowned out." With the internet's popularity and mainstreaming, it is more difficult because "the Internet never forgets". [[Mark Ebner]] said that the internet was the undoing of Scientology, starting around 1996: "The Internet pulled back the curtain to find Hubbard bare, and caught the [[Office of Special Affairs]] with their pants down ... years later, Anonymous came to Cyber Town and strafed Scientology while they weren't looking." [[Dave Touretzky]], says the Internet still offers "a much-too-convenient source of truth that members turn to when they have doubts about their church".{{r\|hicks}}

	== alt.religion.scientology ==		== alt.religion.scientology ==
	Scott Goehring set up the [[newsgroup]] ''[[alt.religion.scientology]]'' in 1991, partly as a joke, partly for the purpose of informing the public about Scientology.<ref name="Net.Wars"/> Debate over the pros and cons of Scientology waxed and waned on the newsgroup through the first three years of its existence, and [[Flaming (Internet)\|flame wars]] flared up commonly, as they did on some other newsgroups.{{r\|alt.scientology.war}}		Scott Goehring set up the [[newsgroup]] ''[[alt.religion.scientology]]'' in 1991, partly as a joke, partly for the purpose of informing the public about Scientology.<ref name="Net.Wars"/> Debate over the pros and cons of Scientology waxed and waned on the newsgroup through the first three years of its existence, and [[Flaming (Internet)\|flame wars]] flared up commonly, as they did on some other newsgroups.{{r\|alt.scientology.war}}

	The online battle is generally regarded as having begun with the arrival of Dennis Erlich to ''alt.religion.scientology'' in late July 1994. A former high-ranking official in the Scientology organization who had been personally affiliated with L. Ron Hubbard, he caused a number of regular participants in the newsgroup to sit up and take notice.<ref name="Net.Wars"/>{{Rp\|4, 6}}{{r\|alt.scientology.war}}		The online battle is generally regarded as having begun with the arrival of [[Dennis Erlich]] to ''alt.religion.scientology'' in late July 1994. A former high-ranking official in the Scientology organization who had been personally affiliated with L. Ron Hubbard, he caused a number of regular participants in the newsgroup to sit up and take notice.<ref name="Net.Wars"/>{{Rp\|4, 6}}{{r\|alt.scientology.war}}

	=== The Xenu revelation ===		=== The Xenu revelation ===
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	== Raids and lawsuits ==		== Raids and lawsuits ==
	Shortly after the initial legal announcements and ''rmgroup'' attempt, representatives of Scientology followed through with a series of [[lawsuit]]s against various participants on the newsgroup, including Dennis Erlich, in ''[[Religious Technology Center v. Netcom]]''.		Shortly after the initial legal announcements and ''rmgroup'' attempt, representatives of Scientology followed through with a series of [[lawsuit]]s against various participants on the newsgroup, including Dennis Erlich, in ''[[Religious Technology Center v. Netcom On-Line Communication Services, Inc.]]''

	The first raid took place on February 13, 1995.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.spaink.net/cos/rnewman/erlich/home.html\|title=The Church of Scientology vs. Dennis Erlich, Tom Klemesrud & Netcom}}</ref> Accompanied by Scientology lawyers, federal marshals made several raids on the homes of individuals who were accused of posting Scientology's copyrighted materials to the newsgroup. Raids took place against [[Arnaldo Lerma]] ~~([[~~Virginia~~]])~~,<ref name="gospeloftheweb">{{cite news \| first = Nick \| last = Ryan \| title = The Gospel of the Web \| url = https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2000/mar/23/religion.internet \|newspaper = [[The Guardian]]; Technology \| date = 2000-03-23 \| access-date = 2007-10-12 \| location=London}}</ref> [[Lawrence A. Wollersheim]] and Robert Penny of [[FACTNet]] ~~([[~~Colorado~~]])~~, and Dennis Erlich ~~([[~~California~~]])~~. Internationally, raids took place against [[Karin Spaink]] (The Netherlands) and [[Zenon Panoussis]] (Sweden).{{r\|rinder\|page=153}}		The first raid took place on February 13, 1995.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.spaink.net/cos/rnewman/erlich/home.html\|title=The Church of Scientology vs. Dennis Erlich, Tom Klemesrud & Netcom}}</ref> Accompanied by Scientology lawyers, federal marshals made several raids on the homes of individuals who were accused of posting Scientology's copyrighted materials to the newsgroup. Raids took place against [[Arnaldo Lerma]] in Virginia,<ref name="gospeloftheweb">{{cite news \| first = Nick \| last = Ryan \| title = The Gospel of the Web \| url = https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2000/mar/23/religion.internet \|newspaper = [[The Guardian]]; Technology \| date = 2000-03-23 \| access-date = 2007-10-12 \| location=London}}</ref> [[Lawrence A. Wollersheim]] and Robert Penny of [[FACTNet]] in Colorado, and Dennis Erlich in California. Internationally, raids took place against [[Karin Spaink]] in The Netherlands and [[Zenon Panoussis]] in Sweden.{{r\|rinder\|page=153}}

	In addition to filing lawsuits against individuals, Scientology also sued the ''[[Washington Post]]'' for reprinting one paragraph of the OT writings in a newspaper article, as well as several [[Internet service provider]]s, including [[Netcom (USA)\|Netcom]], Tom Klemesrud, and [[XS4ALL]]. It also regularly demanded the deletion of material from the [[Deja News]] archive.		In addition to filing lawsuits against individuals, Scientology also sued the ''[[Washington Post]]'' for reprinting one paragraph of the OT writings in a newspaper article, as well as several [[Internet service provider]]s, including [[Netcom (USA)\|Netcom]], Tom Klemesrud, and [[XS4ALL]]. It also regularly demanded the deletion of material from the [[Deja News]] archive.
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	* In 1995 Scientology caused a raid on the servers of Dutch Internet provider [[XS4ALL]] and sued it and [[Karin Spaink]] for copyright violations arising from published excerpts from confidential materials. There followed a summary judgment in 1995, full proceedings in 1999, an appeal in 2003<ref name="spainking">{{cite web \|url = http://news.cnet.com/2100-1028_3-5072581.html \|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110616205912/http://news.cnet.com/2100-1028_3-5072581.html \|url-status = dead \|archive-date = 2011-06-16 \|title = Scientology loss keeps hyperlinks legal \|access-date = 2007-08-10 \|last = Hines \|first = Matt \|date = 2003-09-08 \|work = [[CNET]] }}</ref><ref name="LosesRegister">{{cite web		* In 1995 Scientology caused a raid on the servers of Dutch Internet provider [[XS4ALL]] and sued it and [[Karin Spaink]] for copyright violations arising from published excerpts from confidential materials. There followed a summary judgment in 1995, full proceedings in 1999, an appeal in 2003<ref name="spainking">{{cite web \|url = http://news.cnet.com/2100-1028_3-5072581.html \|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110616205912/http://news.cnet.com/2100-1028_3-5072581.html \|url-status = dead \|archive-date = 2011-06-16 \|title = Scientology loss keeps hyperlinks legal \|access-date = 2007-08-10 \|last = Hines \|first = Matt \|date = 2003-09-08 \|work = [[CNET]] }}</ref><ref name="LosesRegister">{{cite web
	\|url = https://www.theregister.co.uk/2003/09/08/scientologists_loses_copyright_case/ \|title = Scientologists loses copyright case \|access-date = 2007-08-10 \|last = Libbenga \|first = Jan \|date = 2003-09-08 \|website = [[The Register]]}}</ref> which has been upheld by the Supreme Court of Netherlands in December 2005, all in favor of the provider and Karin Spaink.<ref name="xs4allpr">[http://www.religionnewsblog.com/13054/final-victory-xs4all-and-karin-spaink-win-scientology-battle Final Victory! XS4ALL and Karin Spaink Win Scientology Battle], Press Release, December 16, 2005</ref>		\|url = https://www.theregister.co.uk/2003/09/08/scientologists_loses_copyright_case/ \|title = Scientologists loses copyright case \|access-date = 2007-08-10 \|last = Libbenga \|first = Jan \|date = 2003-09-08 \|website = [[The Register]]}}</ref> which has been upheld by the Supreme Court of Netherlands in December 2005, all in favor of the provider and Karin Spaink.<ref name="xs4allpr">[http://www.religionnewsblog.com/13054/final-victory-xs4all-and-karin-spaink-win-scientology-battle Final Victory! XS4ALL and Karin Spaink Win Scientology Battle], Press Release, December 16, 2005</ref>
	* Dennis Erlich and Scientology settled their lawsuits. Erlich withdrew from the online battle entirely, and all mention of him was removed from Church of Scientology material.<ref name="Net.Wars"/>{{Rp\|1, 4, 6–9}}<ref name="erlichfree"/>		* [[Dennis Erlich]] and Scientology settled their lawsuits. Erlich withdrew from the online battle entirely, and all mention of him was removed from Church of Scientology material.<ref name="Net.Wars"/>{{Rp\|1, 4, 6–9}}<ref name="erlichfree"/>
	* Activist [[Keith Henson]] was sued for posting a portion of Scientology's writings to the Internet. Henson defended himself in court without a lawyer, while at the same time he carried out protests and pickets against Scientology. The court found that Henson had committed copyright infringement, and the damage award against Henson was $75,000, an amount which Scientology said was the largest damages ever awarded against an individual for copyright infringement. Henson's case became increasingly more complex and ongoing, with a misdemeanor conviction of interfering with religion in [[Riverside County, California]]. In his Internet writings, Henson said that he was forced to flee the United States and seek [[political asylum\|asylum]] in Canada due to ongoing threats against him.<ref name="Net.Wars"/><ref>{{cite web \|url = http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_6320693 \|title = Scientology critic seeks pardon \|access-date = 2007-08-11\|last = Zapler\|first = Mike \|date = 2007-07-07\|work = [[San Jose Mercury News]]}}</ref>{{Rp\|10}}		* Activist [[Keith Henson]] was sued for posting a portion of Scientology's writings to the Internet. Henson defended himself in court without a lawyer, while at the same time he carried out protests and pickets against Scientology. The court found that Henson had committed copyright infringement, and the damage award against Henson was $75,000, an amount which Scientology said was the largest damages ever awarded against an individual for copyright infringement. Henson's case became increasingly more complex and ongoing, with a misdemeanor conviction of interfering with religion in [[Riverside County, California]]. In his Internet writings, Henson said that he was forced to flee the United States and seek [[political asylum\|asylum]] in Canada due to ongoing threats against him.<ref name="Net.Wars"/><ref>{{cite web \|url = http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_6320693 \|title = Scientology critic seeks pardon \|access-date = 2007-08-11\|last = Zapler\|first = Mike \|date = 2007-07-07\|work = [[San Jose Mercury News]]}}</ref>{{Rp\|10}}
	* Scientology was one of the first organizations to make use of the [[Digital Millennium Copyright Act]] (DMCA). In June 1999, Scientology used the controversial law to force [[AT&T Worldnet]] to reveal the identity of a person who had been posting anonymously to ''alt.religion.scientology'' with the pseudonym of "Safe".<ref name="UnSafe">{{cite web \|url = http://news.cnet.com/2100-1023-226676.html \|title = Scientology subpoenas Worldnet \|access-date = 2007-08-10\|last = Goodin\|first = Dan \|date = 1999-06-03\|work = [[CNET]]\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616205921/http://news.cnet.com/2100-1023-226676.html\|archive-date=2011-06-16 }}</ref>		* Scientology was one of the first organizations to make use of the [[Digital Millennium Copyright Act]] (DMCA). In June 1999, Scientology used the controversial law to force [[AT&T Worldnet]] to reveal the identity of a person who had been posting anonymously to ''alt.religion.scientology'' with the pseudonym of "Safe".<ref name="UnSafe">{{cite web \|url = http://news.cnet.com/2100-1023-226676.html \|title = Scientology subpoenas Worldnet \|access-date = 2007-08-10\|last = Goodin\|first = Dan \|date = 1999-06-03\|work = [[CNET]]\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616205921/http://news.cnet.com/2100-1023-226676.html\|archive-date=2011-06-16 }}</ref>
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	<ref name="alt.scientology.war"> {{cite magazine \|url=https://www.wired.com/1995/12/alt-scientology-war/ \|title=alt.scientology.war \|last=Grossman \|first=Wendy M. \|author-link=Wendy M. Grossman \|date=December 1, 1995 \|magazine=[[Wired magazine]] \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990423192737/http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/3.12/alt.scientology.war_pr.html \|archive-date=April 23, 1999 \|url-status=live}}</ref>		<ref name="alt.scientology.war"> {{cite magazine \|url=https://www.wired.com/1995/12/alt-scientology-war/ \|title=alt.scientology.war \|last=Grossman \|first=Wendy M. \|author-link=Wendy M. Grossman \|date=December 1, 1995 \|magazine=[[Wired magazine]] \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990423192737/http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/3.12/alt.scientology.war_pr.html \|archive-date=April 23, 1999 \|url-status=live}}</ref>

			<ref name="hicks">{{Cite web \|title=How the Church of Scientology fought the Internet—and why it lost \|date=September 20, 2015 \|first=Jesse \|last=Hicks \|url=https://kernelmag.dailydot.com/issue-sections/features-issue-sections/14384/scientology-versus-the-internet-going-clear/ \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201113044635/https://kernelmag.dailydot.com/issue-sections/features-issue-sections/14384/scientology-versus-the-internet-going-clear/ \|archive-date=November 13, 2020 \|work=[[The Kernel]]}}</ref>

	<ref name="rinder">{{cite book \|title=A Billion Years: My Escape From a Life in the Highest Ranks of Scientology \|first=Mike \|last=Rinder \|author-link=Mike Rinder \|year=2022 \|publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]] \|isbn=9781982185763}}</ref>		<ref name="rinder">{{cite book \|title=A Billion Years: My Escape From a Life in the Highest Ranks of Scientology \|first=Mike \|last=Rinder \|author-link=Mike Rinder \|year=2022 \|publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]] \|isbn=9781982185763}}</ref>
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	* [http://www.discord.org/~lippard/skeptic/03.3.jl-jj-scientology.html Scientology v. the Internet: Free Speech & Copyright Infringement on the Information Super-Highway], ''[[Skeptic (American magazine)\|Skeptic]]'' vol. 3, no. 3, 1995, pp. 35–41, [[Jim Lippard]] and Jeff Jacobsen.		* [http://www.discord.org/~lippard/skeptic/03.3.jl-jj-scientology.html Scientology v. the Internet: Free Speech & Copyright Infringement on the Information Super-Highway], ''[[Skeptic (American magazine)\|Skeptic]]'' vol. 3, no. 3, 1995, pp. 35–41, [[Jim Lippard]] and Jeff Jacobsen.
	* {{cite magazine \| first = Wendy M. \| last = Grossman \| title = alt.scientology.war \| url = https://www.wired.com/wired/archive/3.12/alt.scientology.war.html \| magazine = [[Wired (magazine)\|Wired]] \| date = 1995-12-01 \| access-date = 2008-10-14 }}
	* {{cite web \| first = Jennifer \| last = Bjorhus \| title = Scientology Critics Claim Harassment For Using Internet \| url = http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=2138183&date=19950826 \| work = [[Seattle Times]] \| date = 1995-08-26 \| access-date = 2008-10-14 }}		* {{cite web \| first = Jennifer \| last = Bjorhus \| title = Scientology Critics Claim Harassment For Using Internet \| url = http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=2138183&date=19950826 \| work = [[Seattle Times]] \| date = 1995-08-26 \| access-date = 2008-10-14 }}
	{{Refend}}		{{Refend}}

← Previous revision		Revision as of 09:12, 4 July 2024
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	Calling the action by the Church of Scientology a form of [[Internet censorship]], members of Project Chanology organized a series of [[denial-of-service attack]]s against Scientology websites, [[prank calls]], and [[black fax]]es to Scientology centers.<ref>{{cite news\|author1=Matthew A. Schroettnig \|author2=Stefanie Herrington \|author3=Lauren E. Trent \|title=Anonymous Versus Scientology: Cyber Criminals or Vigilante Justice? \|date=2008-02-06 \|url=http://www.thelegality.com/archives/22 \|work=The Legality \|access-date=2008-01-25 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705202321/http://www.thelegality.com/archives/22 \|archive-date=2008-07-05 }}</ref>		Calling the action by the Church of Scientology a form of [[Internet censorship]], members of Project Chanology organized a series of [[denial-of-service attack]]s against Scientology websites, [[prank calls]], and [[black fax]]es to Scientology centers.<ref>{{cite news\|author1=Matthew A. Schroettnig \|author2=Stefanie Herrington \|author3=Lauren E. Trent \|title=Anonymous Versus Scientology: Cyber Criminals or Vigilante Justice? \|date=2008-02-06 \|url=http://www.thelegality.com/archives/22 \|work=The Legality \|access-date=2008-01-25 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705202321/http://www.thelegality.com/archives/22 \|archive-date=2008-07-05 }}</ref>

	[[File:Message to Scientology.ogv\|thumb~~\|left~~\|"Message to Scientology", January 21, 2008]]		[[File:Message to Scientology.ogv\|thumb\|"Message to Scientology", January 21, 2008]]

	On January 21, 2008, Anonymous announced its goals and intentions via a video posted to YouTube titled "Message to Scientology", and a [[press release]] declaring a "War on Scientology" against both the Church of Scientology and the [[Religious Technology Center]].<ref name="chanenterprises" /><ref name="thomas">{{cite news \| last =Thomas \| first =Nicki \| title =Scientology and the internet: Internet hackers attack the church \| work =[[Edmonton Sun]] \| publisher =Sun Media \| date =January 25, 2008 \| url =http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Edmonton/2008/01/25/4794425.html \| access-date =2008-01-25 \| url-status =dead \| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20080129090731/http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Edmonton/2008/01/25/4794425.html \| archive-date =January 29, 2008 }}</ref><ref name="dodd">{{cite news \| editor-last =Dodd \| editor-first =Gareth \|agency=Agencies \| title =Anonymous hackers vow to "dismantle" Scientology \| work =[[Xinhua News Agency]] \| date =January 25, 2008 \| url =http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-01/25/content_7495986.htm \| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20080128170633/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-01/25/content_7495986.htm \| url-status =dead \| archive-date =January 28, 2008 \| access-date = 2008-01-25 }}</ref>		On January 21, 2008, Anonymous announced its goals and intentions via a video posted to YouTube titled "Message to Scientology", and a [[press release]] declaring a "War on Scientology" against both the Church of Scientology and the [[Religious Technology Center]].<ref name="chanenterprises" /><ref name="thomas">{{cite news \| last =Thomas \| first =Nicki \| title =Scientology and the internet: Internet hackers attack the church \| work =[[Edmonton Sun]] \| publisher =Sun Media \| date =January 25, 2008 \| url =http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Edmonton/2008/01/25/4794425.html \| access-date =2008-01-25 \| url-status =dead \| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20080129090731/http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Edmonton/2008/01/25/4794425.html \| archive-date =January 29, 2008 }}</ref><ref name="dodd">{{cite news \| editor-last =Dodd \| editor-first =Gareth \|agency=Agencies \| title =Anonymous hackers vow to "dismantle" Scientology \| work =[[Xinhua News Agency]] \| date =January 25, 2008 \| url =http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-01/25/content_7495986.htm \| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20080128170633/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-01/25/content_7495986.htm \| url-status =dead \| archive-date =January 28, 2008 \| access-date = 2008-01-25 }}</ref>