U.S. Government Shuts Down 84,000 Websites, ‘By Mistake’

There is so much garbage on the internet, but this now became a excuse to Gov shuts down good sites too.

The US Government has yet again shuttered several domain names this week. The Department of Justice and Homeland Security’s ICE office proudly announced that they had seized domains related to counterfeit goods and child pornography. What they failed to mention, however, is that one of the targeted domains belongs to a free DNS provider, and that 84,000 websites were wrongfully accused of links to child pornography crimes.

As part of “Operation Save Our Children” ICE’s Cyber Crimes Center has again seized several domain names, but not without making a huge error. Last Friday, thousands of site owners were surprised by a rather worrying banner that was placed on their domain.

“Advertisement, distribution, transportation, receipt, and possession of child pornography constitute federal crimes that carry penalties for first time offenders of up to 30 years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine, forfeiture and restitution,” was the worrying message they read on their websites.

As with previous seizures, ICE convinced a District Court judge to sign a seizure warrant, and then contacted the domain registries to point the domains in question to a server that hosts the warning message. However, somewhere in this process a mistake was made and as a result the domain of a large DNS service provider was seized.

The domain in question is mooo.com, which belongs to the DNS provider FreeDNS. It is the most popular shared domain at afraid.org and as a result of the authorities’ actions a massive 84,000 subdomains were wrongfully seized as well. All sites were redirected to the banner below.

This banner was visible on the 84,000 sites

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/705acbec7ea6.jpg[/atsimg]

You can read the FULL article here

It wasn't by mistake, they was testing to see what they can do. Our government shouldn't be able to shut down legit sites. The government seriously needs to back off when it comes to infringing on free speech.

They want to shut down some sites, not for pornography maybe for other things(ex: sites against goverment). Its just an idea but can be?.Anyway they go by the wrong way.

Beta test for internet shutdown?

reply to post by RUSSO


I can imagine the "government" tee-heeing behind their hand saying, "Ooops", I'm sorry.

My bad.

Just too bad these websites have been ruined because no one wants to visit child pornography sites. Just 84,000 businesses ruined, is all.

84,000 businesses ruined.

By the friggin' government.

Some "beta" test.
S+F

reply to post by beezzer


And the worlds most famous child porn site (I 4 wont C mention H any A names N) is still up and running?

Shows the injustice and incompetence of the people who are supposed to be doing this job.

Your right about people not wanting to visit those sites after the name is tarnished, I feel sorry for the innocent folks who got caught up in this.

The non-offending businesses should file defamation suits against the government. They have a very real and legit legal standing to do so. And they need to, or the government will continue its inexcusable activity.

They are definitely flexing their internet control muscles. Wouldn't want to be caught off guard by an internet revolution or anything pesky like that.

reply to post by RUSSO

You're luck is about as good as mine today Russo. Thread here: www.abovetopsecret.com...

Good find nevertheless.

Originally posted by beezzer
reply to post by RUSSO

 

I can imagine the "government" tee-heeing behind their hand saying, "Ooops", I'm sorry.

My bad.

Just too bad these websites have been ruined because no one wants to visit child pornography sites. Just 84,000 businesses ruined, is all.

84,000 businesses ruined.

By the friggin' government.

Some "beta" test.
S+F

84,000 businesses means: how many people in a bad situation because this?

Originally posted by woogleuk
reply to post by beezzer

 

And the worlds most famous child porn site (I 4 wont C mention H any A names N) is still up and running?

Shows the injustice and incompetence of the people who are supposed to be doing this job.

Your right about people not wanting to visit those sites after the name is tarnished, I feel sorry for the innocent folks who got caught up in this.

I did not understand how this is possible.

What a heck.

The "$84,000 question" is.....
what constitutes a "mistake?"

THE GOVERNMENT WANTS TO CONTROL YOUR INTERNET
BUT THEY DO NOT KNOW HOW THE INTERNET WORKS

reply to post by P-M-H


Didn't DARPA invent the internet.....or was it
Al Gore to conduct global warming research?