What is Anonymous?

If you have been poking around YouTube lately, you may have already heard about Anonymous. Approximately a week ago, this secretive group released a video in response to another video that had been leaked in which Tom Cruise spoke about Scientology. In this video, Anonymous said that they had decided to destroy Scientology and systematically expel it from the Internet "for the good of your followers, for the good of mankind, and for our own enjoyment." Personally,I was very interested in the group of which I had before heard nothing. since seeing their declaration of war, I have been doing doing extensive research into both Scientology and Anonymous, mostly through videos released by the latter.

The result was a surprising jumble of seemingly contradictory claims and messages. Throughout the history of Anonymous, they have been shown (even by some of their more recent messages) to be Internet terrorists. They have hacked into accounts, sent death threats, and even proclaimed in their code that "Anonymous is devoid of humanity." Indeed, one motto of this group is "none of us are as cruel as all of us." At the same time however, the charges that they have levied against Scientology all seem to be based around the concept of human rights. What gives?!

As I learned about Anonymous's dark history, I came to the realization that none of these people would act the way that they do online if you were to meet them in the real world. If Anonymous's messages are to be believed, then its members are normal, everyday people from all walks of life. They are not murderers, suicide bombers, or deranged lunatics who take pleasure from the pain of others. However, when they go online, that is exactly the kind of personality that they want to convey. Really, what happens as these people don the name of Anonymous is best described in the classic tale of "Dr. Jeckel and Mr. Hyde", as long as they are out in the real world, they take on the identity of Dr. Jeckel, a normal human being who is not exceptionally good but not exceptionally bad either. Once they go online and abandon their real name, they become Mr. Hyde, a sinister villain who is freed of all moral and social restraints.

Despite this, their humanity is finally beginning to show as Anonymous prepares to launch its largest campaign ever. I have viewed at least a dozen videos released by Anonymous targeting the Church of Scientology and I can assure that their protest is not without reason. These videos often mention little-known facts, such as Project Snow-white, an attempt by Scientology to infiltrate the government. They bring up events, aspects of Scientology's corrupt system, and individuals whose deaths are blamed on Scientology.

But what weapons can Anonymous really muster against the massive, corporate entity/cult that is Scientology? To begin, they shut down the official Scientology website for over a week. They have also carried out a large number of technological assaults such as sending them all-black faxes in order to waste ink and paper. The latter of these examples may sound laughable, but you must realize that these are not the antics of a single individual, rather the coordinated efforts of a group of people that stretches across the America if not the world. On such a massive scale, these are serious financial issues. However, they still are not the main attack which Anonymous is making. No, the greatest weapons of this secret, online society are based upon drama and the plain and simple truth.

The only way to completely destroy Scientology (which is the goal that Anonymous has set for itself) is to wholly turn the masses against it. Only when the world is fully aware of Scientology's claims, functions, and crimes can it be completely abolished. Therefore, Anonymous's goal must be to get the attention of the people. As a witness to Anonymous's online work, I can easily say that these people are master dramatists. Every word and action is calculated to try and get just the right emotional response and they are no less committed to their real-world demonstrations than they are to their online video. In fact, one member compiled a list of rules that should be followed during a protest, with instructions ranging from "obey the law" and "do not consume alcohol before the demonstration" to "wear comfortable shoes."

Can Scientology be destroyed? I would like to think so. However this remains to be seen and no amount of speculation is going to change the outcome. Personally, I'm taking these people very seriously. I am going to be (as Anonymous has recommended) "very wary of the tenth of February."