Editing Scientology and the Internet (section)

== Project Chanology ==
{{Main|Project Chanology}}

In early 2008, another protest against the Church of Scientology was organized by the Internet-based [[Anonymous (group)|Anonymous]], which originally consisted of users of the English speaking [[imageboard]] [[4chan]] and forums such as Somethingawful.com, and several [[Internet Relay Chat]] channels, among other Internet-based communities claiming affiliation with Anonymous.

On January 14, 2008, a video produced by the [[Church of Scientology]] featuring an interview with [[Tom Cruise]] was leaked to the Internet and uploaded to [[YouTube]].<ref name="CookMar17">{{cite news|author=John Cook |title=Scientology - Cult Friction |url=http://radaronline.com/from-the-magazine/2008/03/scientology_anonymous_protests_tom_cruise_01.php |work=radaronline.com |publisher=[[Radar (magazine)|Radar Magazine]] |date=March 17, 2008 |access-date=2008-03-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080323063402/http://www.radaronline.com/from-the-magazine/2008/03/scientology_anonymous_protests_tom_cruise_01.php |archive-date=March 23, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="WarneJan24">{{cite news | last =Warne | first =Dan | title =Anonymous threatens to "dismantle" Church of Scientology via internet | work =[[APC Magazine]] | publisher =[[National Nine News]] | date =January 24, 2008 | url =http://www.apcmag.com/7905/anonymous_threatens_to_dismantle_church_of_scientology_via_internet | archive-url =https://archive.today/20120921005702/http://www.apcmag.com/7905/anonymous_threatens_to_dismantle_church_of_scientology_via_internet | url-status =dead | archive-date =September 21, 2012 | access-date =2008-01-25 }}</ref><ref name="KNBCJan24">{{cite news  | author =KNBC Staff  | title =Hacker Group Declares War On Scientology: Group Upset Over Church's Handling Of Tom Cruise Video  | work =[[KNBC]]  | date =January 24, 2008  | url =http://www.knbc.com/news/15132759/detail.html  | access-date =2008-01-25  | archive-date =2008-08-21  | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20080821132355/http://www.knbc.com/news/15132759/detail.html  | url-status =dead  }}</ref>
The Church of Scientology issued a copyright violation claim against YouTube requesting the removal of the video.<ref name="vamosi anonymous hackers">{{cite news | last =Vamosi | first =Robert | title =Anonymous hackers take on the Church of Scientology | work =[[CNET News]] | publisher =CNET Networks, Inc. | date =January 24, 2008 | url =http://www.news.com/8301-10789_3-9857666-57.html | access-date =2008-01-25 | archive-date =2012-01-27 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20120127212752/http://news.cnet.com/8301-10789_3-9857666-57.html | url-status =dead }}</ref>
In response to this, Anonymous formulated [[Project Chanology]].<ref name="George-Cosh">{{cite news|last=George-Cosh |first=David |title=Online group declares war on Scientology |work=[[National Post]] |publisher=[[CanWest Global Communications|Canwest Publishing Inc.]] |date=January 25, 2008 |url=https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/story.html?id=261308 |access-date=2008-01-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20080128145858/http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/story.html?id=261308 |archive-date=January 28, 2008 }}</ref><ref name="singel">{{cite magazine  | last =Singel | first =Ryan |title =War Breaks Out Between Hackers and Scientology &ndash; There Can Be Only One | magazine =[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] | publisher =[[CondéNet, Inc.]] | date =January 23, 2008 | url =http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/01/anonymous-attac.html | access-date = 2008-01-25 }}</ref><ref name="feran">{{cite news | last =Feran | first =Tom | title =Where to find the Tom Cruise Scientology videos online, if they're still posted | work =[[The Plain Dealer]] | publisher =[[Advance Publications|Newhouse Newspapers]] | date =January 24, 2008 | url =http://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/entertainment-0/120116724530070.xml&coll=2 | access-date =2008-01-25 | archive-date =2008-01-28 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20080128103019/http://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/plaindealer/index.ssf?%2Fbase%2Fentertainment-0%2F120116724530070.xml&coll=2 | url-status =dead }}</ref><ref name="chanenterprises">{{cite news | last =Chan Enterprises  |title =Internet Group Declares "War on Scientology": Anonymous are fighting the Church of Scientology and the Religious Technology Center | work =Press Release  | publisher =PRLog.Org  | date =January 21, 2008  | url =http://www.prlog.org/10046797-internet-group-anonymous-declares-war-on-scientology.pdf | access-date =2008-01-25  }}</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|"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>
In the press release, the group states that the attacks against the organization will continue in order to protect the right to [[freedom of speech]], and to end what they believe to be the financial exploitation of the organization's members.<ref name="brandon">{{cite news|last=Brandon |first=Mikhail |title=Scientology in the Crosshairs |work=[[The Emory Wheel]] |publisher=[[Emory University]] |date=January 28, 2008 |url=http://www.emorywheel.com/detail.php?n=24945 |access-date=2008-01-31 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120515005226/http://www.emorywheel.com/detail.php?n=24945 |archive-date=May 15, 2012 }}</ref>
A new video "Call to Action" appeared on YouTube on January 28, 2008, calling for protests outside Church of Scientology centers on February 10, 2008.<ref name="feran the group anonymous">{{cite news | last =Feran | first =Tom | title =The group Anonymous calls for protests outside Scientology centers - New on the Net | work =[[The Plain Dealer]] | publisher =[[Advance Publications|Newhouse Newspapers]] | date =January 31, 2008 | url =http://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/entertainment-0/1201771820310820.xml&coll=2 | access-date =2008-02-04 | archive-date =June 19, 2008 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20080619020507/http://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/plaindealer/index.ssf?%2Fbase%2Fentertainment-0%2F1201771820310820.xml&coll=2 | url-status =dead }}</ref><ref name="vamosi anonymous names">{{cite news  | last =Vamosi  | first =Robert |title =Anonymous names February 10 as its day of action against Scientology  | work =[[CNET News]]  | publisher =CNET Networks, Inc. | date =January 28, 2008 | url =http://www.news.com/8301-10789_3-9859513-57.html  | access-date = 2008-01-28 }}</ref>

On February 2, 2008, 150 people gathered outside of a Church of Scientology center in [[Orlando, Florida]] to hold a protest against the organization's practices.<ref name="braiker">{{cite news | last =Braiker | first =Brian |title =The Passion of 'Anonymous': A shadowy, loose-knit consortium of activists and hackers called 'Anonymous' is just the latest thorn in Scientology's side | work =[[Newsweek]]  | pages =Technology: Newsweek Web Exclusive  | publisher =Newsweek, Inc.  | date =February 8, 2008  | url =http://www.newsweek.com/id/109410  | access-date =2008-02-09  }}</ref><ref name="barkham">{{cite news   | last = Barkham  | first = Patrick |title = Hackers declare war on Scientologists amid claims of heavy-handed Cruise control  | work = [[The Guardian]]  | publisher = Guardian News and Media Limited  | date = February 4, 2008  | url = https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2008/feb/04/news  | access-date = 2008-02-03 | location=London}}</ref><ref name="wkmg">{{cite news|last=Staff |title=Group Lines Road To Protest Church Of Scientology |work=[[WKMG-TV]] |publisher=Internet Broadcasting Systems and Local6.com |date=February 3, 2008 |url=http://www.local6.com/news/15205679/detail.html |access-date=2008-02-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080328184704/http://www.local6.com/news/15205679/detail.html |archive-date=March 28, 2008 }}</ref><ref name="eckinger">{{cite news  | last =Eckinger  | first =Helen  | author2 =Gabrielle Finley, Katherine Norris  | title =Anti-Scientology group has protest rally  | work =[[Orlando Sentinel]]  | date =February 3, 2008  | url =http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orange/orl-cfbriefs03_508feb03,0,1439702.story  | access-date =2008-02-03  | archive-date =2008-02-06  | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20080206095211/http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orange/orl-cfbriefs03_508feb03,0,1439702.story  | url-status =dead  }}</ref> Small protests were also held in [[Santa Barbara, California]],<ref name="standifer">{{cite news  | last = Standifer  | first = Tom  | title = Masked Demonstrators Protest Against Church of Scientology  | work = [[Daily Nexus]]  | pages = Issue 69, Volume 88  | publisher = [[University of California, Santa Barbara]]  | date = February 4, 2008  |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080420142238/http://www.dailynexus.com/article.php?a=15686|archive-date=2008-04-20|  url = http://www.dailynexus.com/article.php?a=15686  | access-date = 2008-02-04 }}</ref> and [[Manchester|Manchester, England]].<ref name="barkham" /><ref>{{cite news  | last = Eber  | first = Hailey  | title = Anti-Scientologists Warm Up for February 10  | work = [[Radar (magazine)|Radar Online]]  | publisher = Radar Magazine  | date = February 4, 2008  | url = http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2008/02/antiscientologists-warming-up-for-february-10.php  | access-date = 2008-02-04  | archive-date = June 17, 2008  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080617221908/http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2008/02/antiscientologists-warming-up-for-february-10.php  | url-status = dead  }}</ref>
On February 10, 2008, about 7,000 people [[Project Chanology#February 10|protested in more than 93 cities worldwide]].<ref name="MoncadaFeb12">{{cite news |author=Carlos Moncada |title=Organizers Tout Scientology Protest, Plan Another |url=http://suncoastpinellas.tbo.com/content/2008/feb/12/organizers-tout-scientology-protest-plan-another/ |newspaper=[[The Tampa Tribune|TBO.com]] |date=2008-02-12 |access-date=2008-02-13 |archive-date=February 10, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210160057/http://suncoastpinellas.tbo.com/content/2008/feb/12/organizers-tout-scientology-protest-plan-another/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="RamadgeFeb14">{{cite news|author=Andrew Ramadge |title=Scientology protest surge crashes websites |url=http://www.news.com.au/technology/story/0,25642,23212002-5014239,00.html |work=[[News.com.au]] |publisher=[[News Limited]] |date=2008-02-14 |access-date=2008-02-14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080215034151/http://www.news.com.au/technology/story/0%2C25642%2C23212002-5014239%2C00.html |archive-date=February 15, 2008 }}</ref><ref name="RamadgeMar17">{{cite news|author=Andrew Ramadge |title=Second round of Anonymous v Scientology |url=http://www.news.com.au/technology/story/0,25642,23389091-5014239,00.html |work=[[News.com.au]] |publisher=[[News Limited]] |date=2008-03-17 |access-date=2008-03-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091006062843/http://www.news.com.au/technology/story/0%2C25642%2C23389091-5014239%2C00.html |archive-date=2009-10-06 }}</ref>
Many protesters wore Guy Fawkes masks inspired by the character [[V (comics)|V]] from ''[[V for Vendetta]]'', or otherwise disguised their identities, in part to protect themselves from reprisals from the organization.<ref name="StateNews">{{cite news   | last =Harrison   | first =James (''[[The State News]]'') |title =Scientology protestors take action around world  | date =February 12, 2008  | url =http://www.statenews.com/index.php/blog/entertainment/2008/02/internet_group_ | access-date = 2008-02-14 }}</ref><ref name="ForresterFeb11">{{cite news|url=https://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2008/02/11/dozens_of_masked_protesters_blast_scientology_church/|title=Dozens of masked protesters blast Scientology church|first=John|last=Forrester|date=2008-02-11|access-date=2008-02-15|newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]]}}</ref>
Anonymous held a [[Project Chanology#March 2008|second wave of protests]] on March 15, 2008, in cities all over the world, including [[New York City|New York]], [[Chicago]], [[Los Angeles]], [[London]], [[Paris]], [[Vancouver]], [[Toronto]], [[Berlin]], and [[Dublin]]. Anonymous held its [[Project Chanology#April 2008|third protest]] against Scientology on April 12, 2008.<ref name="shaundavies">{{cite news | last =Davies | first =Shaun | title =Scientology strikes back in information war | work =[[National Nine News]] | publisher =ninemsn | date =March 20, 2008 | url =http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=409940 | access-date =2008-03-20 | archive-date =September 23, 2012 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20120923044939/http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=409940 | url-status =dead }}</ref><ref name="RamadgeMar20">{{cite news|author=Andrew Ramadge |title=Scientology site gets a facelift after protests |url=http://www.news.com.au/technology/story/0,25642,23407107-5014239,00.html |work=[[News.com.au]] |publisher=[[News Limited]] |date=2008-03-20 |access-date=2008-03-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080320233601/http://www.news.com.au/technology/story/0%2C25642%2C23407107-5014239%2C00.html |archive-date=2008-03-20 }}</ref> Named "Operation Reconnect", it aimed to increase awareness of the Church of Scientology's [[Disconnection (Scientology)|disconnection policy]].<ref name="CookMar17" />  A [[Project Chanology#May 2008|fourth protest]] occurred on May 10, 2008, and [[Project Chanology#June–October 2008|a fifth (Operation Sea Arrrgh)]] occurred on June 14, 2008.