(In)visible Ghosts in the Machine and the Powers that Bind: The Relational Securitization of Anonymous

Abstract

This paper analyzes the formation and subsequent securitization of the digital protest movement Anonymous, highlighting the emergence of social antagonists from communication itself. In contrast to existing approaches that implicitly or explicitly conceptualize Othering (and securitization) as unidirectional process between (active) sender and (passive) receiver, an approach that is based on communication gives the “threat” a voice of its own. The concept proposed in this paper focuses on “designations” as communicating rules and attributes with regard to a government object. It delineates how designations give rise to the visibility of political entities and agency in the first place. Applying this framework, we can better understand the movement's path from a bunch of anonymous individuals to the collectivity “Anonymous,” posing a threat to certain bases of the state's ontological existence, its prerogative to secrecy, and challenging its claim to unrestrained surveillance. At the same time, the state's bases are implicated and reproduced in the way this conflict is constructed. The conflict not only (re)produces and makes visible “the state” as a social entity, but also changes or at least challenges the self‐same entity's agency and legitimacy. Such a relational approach allows insights into conflict formation as dynamic social process.

Cyborg activism: Exploring the reconfigurations of democratic subjectivity in Anonymous

“…The observation of the central position of Gabriella Coleman in the study of Anonymous, as mentioned by many authors (Dunn Cavelty and Jaeger, 2015: 177; Jarvis, 2014: 1; Klein, 2015: 5; Potter, 2015: 4), proves entirely true. Coleman’s ethnographic observations extending over years and her numerous publications (Coleman, 2011a, 2011b, 2012, 2013, 2014) laid the groundwork for many other scholars.…”

“…Instead of attributing an evolution from apolitical trolls to a social justice actor, I read the development of Anonymous in terms of visibility and political self-awareness. Sauter (2013: 990) observes a shift from insularity to visibility, and Dunn Cavelty and Jaeger (2015: 158) describe Anonymous’ transformation from a meme creator to a visible meme itself. Anonymous’ increasing visibility also contributed to its political self-awareness.…”

Cyber Security Strategies of Latin America Countries

“…Según lo planeado, este cometido sería cumplido mediante incremento acelerado de inversiones internas en las TI, creación de puestos de trabajo, así como establecimiento de relaciones de socios entre los sectores público y privado. Se propone adoptar en el futuro cercano la estrategia nacional integral en el ámbito de la seguridad cibernética [56,57].…”

Changing the code? Norm contestation and US antipreneurism in cyberspace

“…11 The rise of non-state hacker groups such as Anonymous and LulzSec, as well as state-supported groups such as the Syrian Electronic Army and PLA Unit 61938, further complicates the picture. 12 Russian government-supported hacking during the 2016 US presidential election also has increased the saliency of these concerns. Former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) director Leon Panetta warns, 'The Internet is open.…”