“As we learn about TrapWire and similar systems in the surveillance industry, it becomes more apparent that we must, at all costs, shut this system down and render it useless,” active members of the loose-knit hacktivist collective Anonymous write in a press release issued early Thursday. Starting with this weekend, the group is asking for anyone that is concerned with TrapWire and the acceleration of the world into a full-fledged surveillance state to make sure their voices are heard — peacefully.
Only one week after RT first broke news of TrapWire, an intricate global intelligence infrastructure discussed in emails claimed to be compromised from Strategic Forecasting, or Stratfor, activists around the world have denounced the state-of-the-art surveillance system that is believed to be in use at certain locales internationally.
According to emails Anonymous claims to have hacked from Stratfor that were then distributed to WikiLeaks as the ‘Global Intelligence Files,’ the TrapWire system has been installed in the cities of Las Vegas, New York, London and Washington, D.C., among others. Now members of the group are encouraging anyone that is opposed to a system orchestrated by mysterious artificial intelligence programming with vast government ties to civilly reject it.
“An omniscient AI electronic brain able to monitor us through the thick web of CCTV cameras, as well as online social media feeds is monstrous and Orwellian in its implications and possibilities. Anonymous will now put forth a call to arms. We will see to it that this evil and invasive system ceases to function, and the right to privacy is upheld,” members of the collective tell the media.
As stated in the Global Intelligence Files, Stratfor had a contractual agreement with TrapWire and its parent company, Abraxas, to advertise its product in exchange for an 8 percent commission [pdf]. Abraxas founder Richard Helms has publically claimed TrapWire, “can collect information about people and vehicles that is more accurate than facial recognition, draw patterns, and do threat assessments of areas.”
When Abraxas white-papers and other publically available information is corroborated by claims made in the alleged emails, though, the TrapWire system is turned into not just a tool to fight terrorists but a stealthy way of letting law enforcement and federal agencies monitor the moves and actions of any person of interest.
Stratfor has formally recognized that their servers were attacked but have never verified the authenticity of the Global Intelligence Files.
Off the record, Stratfor Vice President of Intelligence Fred Burton claims in the hacked emails that TrapWire has allowed its affiliated agencies to do “what no US Govt Agency has been able to do in the CT [counterterrorism] arena.” Other accusations attributed to Stratfor link the surveillance system’s intelligence to being delivered “inside the walls” of the White House, Scotland Yard and other agencies, with Burton even touting their elusive ties in one decoded emails as purposely circumventing the “dysfunctional” Department of Homeland Security and bureaucratic Capitol Hill politics.
When the government is given the ability to decide what constitutes suspicious activity and no oversight into that decision making is at all apparent, the consequences of the TrapWire system transcend to a point where free speech and political activism can become nonexistent, lest the fear of governmental retaliation is ignored entirety. Given repeated reports of activists and journalists being targeted by law enforcement even within the United States this year, though, the fear of federal surveillance of all US citizens is quickly becoming not just a distant worry but a very real crisis.
Anonymous members have taken notice, and write this week, “The imbalance between our accountability to the government and big business and their accountability to us is growing.” Beginning Saturday, they want others to help end that asymmetry.
“Anonymous cordially invites you to observe and participate in an upcoming protest of what we see as a direct violation to our fundamental rights of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness in privacy,” members of the group write. “This Saturday the 18th, Anonymous members will be engaging SplashCam as a branch of Op-TrapWire. The goal is to peacefully disrupt the unnecessary and disturbing surveillance of citizens beginning the morning of the 18, and ending when the network and infrastructure are proven to be off-line and no longer functioning.”
In order to do as much, Anonymous is also circulating suggestions that could be implemented to attempt to render TrapWire-linked cameras useless, even momentarily, including placing boxes and bags over cameras, plastering the lenses with stickers and even using household lubricates and other viscous liquids to leave the lenses unusable.
“Some TrapWire cameras are sealed inside a plastic dome, from which they observe our every move. Cover or smear this dome, or the exposed lenses, and the camera becomes useless. A way to achieve this is smudging with Vaseline, or other grease. Pudding as well as bean or starch pastes are also great alternatives, and while removable, are not easily cleaned whence dry,” members write.
“Many cameras are not within easy reach, so for these we recommend supersoakers or water-balloons full of karo syrup and water or, more easily available, soda.If you are within reach of the camera but do not have access to aforementioned items, simple crayons or other waxes will suffice.”
In the single week since TrapWire has been exposed, both Abraxas and its parent company have tried to dismiss their connection with the program, although alleged Stratfor emails suggest that the system, at least at the time of that correspondence, was growing by the day.
The New York Police Department — who is documented in the Global Intelligence Files to have entered an agreement with the surveillance system — has shot down rumors of existing ties as well. In Australia, where TrapWire is rumored to be operated, a Sydney Morning Herald piece published earlier this week critiquing the project was mysteriously scrubbed from the website of the paper and its affiliates.
With the mainstream media only slowly catching on to a campaign growing even quicker than TrapWire itself, Anonymous members say that dismantling the linked devices and raising awareness is necessary for the sake of all.
“They will not hesitate to label us terrorists, and that we are out to destroy and undermine safety,” the members say in a statement. “They will say we are the ones placing you in danger. We are merely patriots taking a stand for individual rights outlined in the Constitution and which our elected officials swear to uphold but have failed to do.”