Editing Scientology and the Internet

{{short description|War between Scientology and netizens}}
{{use mdy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox civil conflict
 | date = July 1994 – present
 | partof = [[Scientology controversies]] 
 | image = [[File:Scientology versus the Internet.png|300px]]
 | caption = Counterclockwise from above: [[Project Chanology|Protest]] by an Internet group calling itself '[[Anonymous (group)|Anonymous]]' against the practices and tax status of the Church of Scientology; Monument-style sign in front of the [[Founding Church of Scientology]] in Washington DC; Screenshot of error message when attempting to load www.scientology.org on January 25, 2008.
 | place = Internet, courts of law, worldwide protests
 | status = ongoing
 | methods = [[litigation]], [[spam (electronic)|spam]], [[trolling]], [[astroturfing]], [[street protest]]s, [[prank call]]s, [[black fax]]es, [[denial of service]] attacks
 | side1 = 
[[alt.religion.scientology]]<br />
[[Anonymous (group)|Anonymous]]<br />
[[Operation Clambake]]<br />
[[WikiLeaks]]<br />
[[Mark Bunker|XenuTV]]
 | side2 = [[Church of Scientology]], [[Church of Scientology International]], [[Scientology front groups]], various other associated entities
 |leadfigures1 =
* [[Andreas Heldal-Lund]]
* [[Mark Bunker]]
* [[Julian Assange]] 
 | leadfigures2 =
* [[David Miscavige]]
* [[Tom Cruise]]
* [[John Travolta]]
* [[Tommy Davis (Scientology)|Tommy Davis]]
* [[Moxon & Kobrin]]
}}

[[File:Anonymous Scientology 4a by David Shankbone.JPG|thumb|A member of the Internet group [[Anonymous (group)|Anonymous]] which has held protests in many countries against the [[Church of Scientology|CoS]] every month since January 2008]]

There are a number of disputes concerning the [[Church of Scientology]]'s attempts to [[censorship|suppress material]] critical of [[Scientology]] and the organization on the [[Internet]], utilizing various methods {{endash}} primarily lawsuits and legal threats, as well as [[front organization]]s.<ref>[https://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/01/25/ddos_scientology_controversy/ Critics split over DDoS attacks on Scientology] [[The Register]], 25 January 2008</ref><ref>[http://www.canadiancontent.net/commtr/internet-group-launches-war-scientology-following-youtube-video_874.html Internet group launches War on Scientology, following YouTube video] Canadian Content, 23 January 2008</ref><ref name="Kent">{{cite journal | last = Kent | first = Stephen A. | author-link = Stephen A. Kent |author2=Krebs, Theresa | year = 1988 | title = When Scholars Know Sin: Alternative Religions and Their Academic Supporters  | journal = [[Skeptic (American magazine)|Skeptic]] | volume = 6 | issue = 3 | pages = 36–44 | url = https://skent.ualberta.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/popular-press-When-Scholars-Know-Sin.pdf | access-date = 2006-06-06 }}</ref> In late 1994, the organization began using various legal tactics to stop distribution of unpublished documents written by [[L. Ron Hubbard]]. The organization has often been accused of [[Barratry (common law)|barratry]] through the filing of [[Strategic lawsuit against public participation|SLAPP]] suits.<ref>{{Cite web
|url=https://www.fecris.org/uncategorized/graham-berry-hamburg-2008/
|last=Berry
|first=Graham E.
|title=How the Scientology Organization uses and exploits the United States' legal system for its own ends
|quote=The Pattinson v. Scientology case had to be dismissed when Scientology engaged in barratry and drove Michael Pattinson, and me, into bankruptcy.
|access-date=January 7, 2011 |website=[[FECRIS]]
}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news
|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,972865-9,00.html
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070225132542/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,972865-9,00.html
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=February 25, 2007
|title=The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power
|last=Behar
|first=Richard
|newspaper=Time
|date=May 6, 1991
|access-date=January 7, 2011
|quote=Hubbard warned his followers in writing to 'beware of attorneys who tell you not to sue... the purpose of the suit is to harass and discourage rather than to win.' Result: Scientology has brought hundreds of suits against its perceived enemies and today pays an estimated $20 million annually to more than 100 lawyers. One legal goal of Scientology is to bankrupt the opposition or bury it under paper.
}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news
 |url=https://www.villagevoice.com/2008/06/24/scientologys-crushing-defeat/
 |title=Scientology's Crushing Defeat 
 |last=Ortega  |first=Tony |author-link=Tony Ortega
 |newspaper=[[The Village Voice]] 
 |date=June 24, 2008 
 |access-date=January 7, 2011 
 |quote=In 1985, Scientologists filed a separate lawsuit based on federal anti-racketeering laws (a RICO action) in U.S. district court ... The federal court threw out the lawsuit ... calling it frivolous and 'bordering on malicious.'  
 |url-status=live
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080709230659/http://www.villagevoice.com/2008-06-24/news/Scientologys-Crushing-Defeat/full 
 |archive-date=July 9, 2008 
}}</ref> The organization's response is that its litigious nature is solely to protect its [[copyright]]ed works and the [[trade secret|unpublished status]] of certain documents.

Various critics of the Church of Scientology have characterized the organization as a [[confidence trick|confidence scam]] and say that these secretive writings are proof, or that they contain evidence that the organization's medical practices are [[law|illegal]] and [[fraudulent]].<ref>Jacobsen, Jeff. [https://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/NOTs/medical/jacobsen-medical.txt Medical claims within Scientology's secret teachings], 1996</ref><ref>O'Connor, Mike. [http://groups.google.com/group/alt.religion.scientology/msg/63a67a019d7e0cb4 "How Scientology claims to cure physical illness"], 2003</ref> Scientology has been convicted of [[fraud]] in the courts of several nations, although not those of the [[United States]]. Others have said that the organization is [[Copyright misuse|abusing copyright law]] by launching lawsuits against outspoken critics.<ref>[http://www.xenu.net/archive/events/9805henson-case/nots34_anal.html NOTS34: criminality successfully protected by copyright law], [[Tilman Hausherr]] (1998)</ref>

== Overview ==

'''Scientology versus the internet''' was a phrase coined to describe the "war" that the Church of Scientology waged to try to remove their copyrighted materials and secret "advanced technology" from the internet, and to hinder, harass and punish those who used the internet to discuss Scientology and expose abuses. The efforts started in earnest in the 1990s and were effectively abandoned in the late-2000s.{{r|rinder|pp=153-156}} Former national spokesman for Scientology [[Robert Vaughn Young]] once said, "I am thankful I'm not having to face the Net. It's going to be to Scientology what Vietnam was to the US."{{r|alt.scientology.war}}

At first, Scientology operatives attempted to shut down the main online newsgroup about Scientology. Failing that, they tried to overpower it. When insider information started to appear in droves, the organization identified and focused on several key players, had their premises raided, and filed lawsuits against them. Their efforts to suppress speech about Scientology attracted the attention of [[Anonymous (hacker group)|Anonymous]] in 2008, who declared their own war against Scientology, called [[Project Chanology]]. And finally with the posting of virtually all Scientology materials online, including with [[WikiLeaks]], internally Scientology conceded they had lost the war.

In 1994, [[Scientology official]] [[Mike Rinder]] was put on the case when the [[OT Level]]s appeared on the internet.
{{blockquote|text=This was a huge flap. ... At the outset, it was unclear who was responsible, and all hands began a frantic effort to nail down the perpetrators. ... We tapped any scientologist who had computer expertise and engage a group of PIs to collect evidence. This was both high priority and highly confidential. ... [Five] people were identified as suspects, and lawsuits were filed against them. In February 1995, federal marshals raided their homes and seized their computers. ... The filing of these lawsuits was a strategic blunder. It set the fledgling internet on fire and activists began appearing from all over, vowing to destroy scientology and end its assault on 'free speech'. [[Religious Technology Center|RTC]] launched a new — and virtual — assault that scientology has never recovered from: legal threats, lawsuits, and attempted criminal prosecutions proved to be no match for the anonymous worldwide information dissemination vehicle that was the ever-expanding internet. Scientology was losing the battle to keep the OT levels secret, ... databases proliferated containing all copyrighted works, all Hubbard lectures, and then internal scientology documents. ... we soon understood that we were under siege ... [our lawyers] sent out threats to every person who posted the materials, to the [ISPs], and even to the phone companies that gave access to the internet. But that resulted in more sites appearing. It was ultimately a hopeless war ... Eventually, even we had to admit we had lost. We were playing a never-ending game of [[Whac-A-Mole]] — virtually everything ever written by Hubbard or about Scientology has now been posted on the internet. |author=Mike Rinder {{r|rinder|pp=153-156}} }}

According to [[Tony Ortega]], in the 1970s it was easier for Scientology to make scandalous stories disappear. "With limited media outlets to target, Scientology could reasonably expect to control its reputation. Critics could be marginalized or drowned out." With the internet's popularity and mainstreaming, it is more difficult because "the Internet never forgets". [[Mark Ebner]] said that the internet was the undoing of Scientology, starting around 1996: "The Internet pulled back the curtain to find Hubbard bare, and caught the [[Office of Special Affairs]] with their pants down ... years later, Anonymous came to Cyber Town and strafed Scientology while they weren't looking." [[Dave Touretzky]], says the Internet still offers "a much-too-convenient source of truth that members turn to when they have doubts about their church".{{r|hicks}}

== alt.religion.scientology ==
Scott Goehring set up the [[newsgroup]] ''[[alt.religion.scientology]]'' in 1991, partly as a joke, partly for the purpose of informing the public about Scientology.<ref name="Net.Wars"/> Debate over the pros and cons of Scientology waxed and waned on the newsgroup through the first three years of its existence, and [[Flaming (Internet)|flame wars]] flared up commonly, as they did on some other newsgroups.{{r|alt.scientology.war}}

The online battle is generally regarded as having begun with the arrival of [[Dennis Erlich]] to ''alt.religion.scientology'' in late July 1994. A former high-ranking official in the Scientology organization who had been personally affiliated with L. Ron Hubbard, he caused a number of regular participants in the newsgroup to sit up and take notice.<ref name="Net.Wars"/>{{Rp|4, 6}}{{r|alt.scientology.war}}

=== The Xenu revelation ===
On December 24, 1994, the first of a large number of anonymous messages was posted to ''alt.religion.scientology'', containing the text of the "secret" writings of Scientology known as the ''[[Operating Thetan|OT Levels]]'' (OT stands for "Operating Thetan"). Included among these postings was [[Xenu|OT III]] (''Operating Thetan Level Three''), which gave L. Ron Hubbard's description of the "[[Xenu]] story". 

The Xenu story had been published in the Robert Kaufman book ''[[Inside Scientology: How I Joined Scientology and Became Superhuman]]'' in 1972, in ''[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]'' in 1977, and several times in the 1980s in the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'';<ref>[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.religion.scientology/msg/d24819df480c74bb?hl=en&dmode=source The Un-Funny Truth about ARS] alt.religion.scientology, 3 September 2010</ref> nevertheless, this action brought on the actions of lawyers representing Scientology, who contacted various newsgroup participants and posted warnings demanding that the unauthorized distribution of the OT writings cease. The lawyers described the documents as "copyrighted, [[trademark]]ed, unpublished trade secrets", and the distribution of the materials as a violation of [[copyright law]] and [[trademark law]].<ref>{{cite web | first = Alan | last = Prendergast | title = Hunting rabbits, serving spam: The net under siege | url = https://www.westword.com/news/hunting-rabbits-serving-spam-the-net-under-siege-5055579 | work = [[Westword|Denver Westword]] | publisher = [[Village Voice Media]] | date = 1995-10-04 | access-date = 2008-03-08 }}</ref>

The first postings of the ''OT'' documents were done through an [[anonymous remailer]], and the identity of the person who made them available on the newsgroup was never discovered.  However, Dennis Erlich posted replies to these messages on the newsgroup, and his replies contained the entire text of the original messages (including the disputed materials).  Scientology's lawyers therefore approached him, declaring that Erlich had re-published the copyrighted works in his newsgroup messages.  Erlich's reply to this was to deny their requests to remove his postings from the newsgroup.

=== Attempt to remove ''alt.religion.scientology'' ===
On January 11, 1995, Scientology lawyer [[Helena Kobrin]] attempted to shut down the [[Usenet]] [[newsgroup|discussion group]] ''alt.religion.scientology'' by sending a control message instructing Usenet servers to delete the group on the grounds that:

<blockquote>(1) It was started with a forged message; (2) not discussed on [[Control message|alt.config]]; (3) it has the name "scientology" in its title which is a trademark and is misleading, as a.r.s. is mainly used for flamers to attack the Scientology religion; (4) it has been and continues to be heavily abused with copyright and trade secret violations and serves no purpose other than condoning these illegal practices.<ref name="Net.Wars">{{cite book | last = Grossman | first = Wendy | title = Net.Wars | url = https://archive.org/details/netwars00gros/page/77 | access-date = 2006-06-11 | publisher = New York University Press | location = New York | isbn = 0-8147-3103-1 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/netwars00gros/page/77 77–78] | chapter = Copyright Terrorists | chapter-url = http://www.nyupress.org/netwars/textonly/pages/chapter06/ch06_.html | date = October 1997 | url-access = registration }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.xs4all.nl/~kspaink/cos/rnewman/usenet/rmgroup |title=Rmgroup message from Helena K. Kobrin |date=11 January 1995|access-date=2005-09-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050824091341/http://www.xs4all.nl/~kspaink/cos/rnewman/usenet/rmgroup |archive-date=2005-08-24 }}</ref></blockquote>

In practice, this [[rmgroup message]] had little effect,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.xs4all.nl/~kspaink/cos/rnewman/usenet/rmgroup.html |title=The Church of Scientology tries to shut down alt.religion.scientology |access-date=2016-02-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080120172417/http://www.xs4all.nl/~kspaink/cos/rnewman/usenet/rmgroup.html |archive-date=2008-01-20 }}</ref> since most Usenet servers are configured to disregard such messages when applied to groups that receive substantial traffic, and [[newgroup message]]s were quickly issued for those servers that did not do so. However, the issuance of the message resulted in increased public criticism of Scientology by [[free-speech]] advocates.

== Raids and lawsuits ==
Shortly after the initial legal announcements and ''rmgroup'' attempt, representatives of Scientology followed through with a series of [[lawsuit]]s against various participants on the newsgroup, including Dennis Erlich, in ''[[Religious Technology Center v. Netcom On-Line Communication Services, Inc.]]''

The first raid took place on February 13, 1995.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.spaink.net/cos/rnewman/erlich/home.html|title=The Church of Scientology vs. Dennis Erlich, Tom Klemesrud & Netcom|website=www.spaink.net}}</ref> Accompanied by Scientology lawyers, federal marshals made several raids on the homes of individuals who were accused of posting Scientology's copyrighted materials to the newsgroup. Raids took place against [[Arnaldo Lerma]] in Virginia,<ref name="gospeloftheweb">{{cite news | first = Nick | last = Ryan | title = The Gospel of the Web | url = https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2000/mar/23/religion.internet |newspaper = [[The Guardian]]; Technology | date = 2000-03-23 | access-date = 2007-10-12 | location=London}}</ref> [[Lawrence A. Wollersheim]] and Robert Penny of [[FACTNet]] in Colorado, and Dennis Erlich in California. Internationally, raids took place against [[Karin Spaink]] in The Netherlands and [[Zenon Panoussis]] in Sweden.{{r|rinder|page=153}}

In addition to filing lawsuits against individuals, Scientology also sued the ''[[Washington Post]]'' for reprinting one paragraph of the OT writings in a newspaper article, as well as several [[Internet service provider]]s, including [[Netcom (USA)|Netcom]], Tom Klemesrud, and [[XS4ALL]]. It also regularly demanded the deletion of material from the [[Deja News]] archive.

Participants in ''alt.religion.scientology'' began using quotes from OT III in particular to publicize the online battle over the secret documents.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.xenu.net/archive/leaflet/ | title = The XENU Leaflet | publisher = Operation Clambake | format = download in various formats | first=Roland |last=Rashleigh-Berry}}</ref> The story of [[Xenu]] was subsequently quoted in many publications, including news reports on [[CNN]]<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.cnn.com/US/9508/scientology/ | title = Church of Scientology protects secrets on the Internet |date=August 26, 1995 | publisher = [[CNN]] }}</ref> and ''[[60 Minutes]]''.<ref>[[Lesley Stahl]], ''[[60 Minutes]]'', (December 28, 1997) "The Cult Awareness Network". [[CBS News]].</ref> It became the most famous reference to the OT levels, to the point where many Internet users who were not intimately familiar with Scientology had heard the story of Xenu, and immediately associated the name with Scientology. The initial strikes against Scientology's critics settled down into a series of legal battles that raged through the courts. The [[Electronic Frontier Foundation]] provided legal assistance to defendant Tom Klemesrud and his attorney Richard Horning helped find Dennis Erlich ''pro bono'' defense.  Daily reports of the latest happenings were posted to ''alt.religion.scientology.''

In the wake of the Scientologist actions, the [[Penet remailer]], which had been the most popular [[anonymous remailer]] in the world until the Scientology "war" took place, was shut down. [[Johan Helsingius]], operator of the remailer, stated that the legal protections afforded him in his country (Finland) were too thin to protect the anonymity of his users and he decided to close down the remailer as a result.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.xs4all.nl/~kspaink/cos/rnewman/anon/penet.html |title=The Church of Scientology vs. Anon.penet.fi |access-date=2016-02-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207122638/http://www.xs4all.nl/~kspaink/cos/rnewman/anon/penet.html |archive-date=2008-12-07 }}</ref><ref name=stalking>{{cite web | first = Alan | last = Prendergast | title = Stalking the Net | url = http://www.westword.com/1995-10-04/news/stalking-the-net/full | work = [[Westword|Denver Westword News]] | publisher = [[Village Voice Media]] | date = 1995-10-04 | access-date = 2008-01-30 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | first = Sabine | last = Helmers | title = A Brief History of anon.penet.fi | url = http://www.december.com/cmc/mag/1997/sep/helmers.html | publisher = CMC Magazine | date = 1997-09-01 | access-date = 2008-01-30 }}</ref>

== Scientology's online campaign ==

{{See also|Sporgery|Chilling Effects|Scieno Sitter|Trapped in the Closet (South Park episode)|Church of Scientology editing on Wikipedia}}
After failing to remove the newsgroup, Scientologists adopted a strategy of newsgroup spam and intimidation.<ref name="flames">{{cite news|first=Colman |last=Jones |title=Freedom Flames Out on the 'Net - Who launched the largest-ever sabotage of the Internet? |url=http://www.nowtoronto.com/issues/15/44/News/feature.html |newspaper=[[Now (newspaper)|NOW]] |date=1996-07-04 |access-date=2006-12-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080129101614/http://www.nowtoronto.com/issues/15/44/News/feature.html |archive-date=2008-01-29 }}</ref> Scientologists hired third parties to regularly flood the newsgroup with pro-scientology messages, vague anti-scientology messages, irrelevant comments, and accusations that other posters are secret Scientologists intent on tracking and punishing posters. This makes the newsgroup virtually unreadable via online readers such as [[Google Groups]], although more specialized newsreading software that can [[Kill file|filter out all messages]] by specific "high noise" posters make the newsgroup more usable.

While legal battles were being fought in the courts, an equally intense and aggressive campaign was waged online. The newsgroup ''alt.religion.scientology'' found itself at the heart of an electronic maelstrom of information and [[disinformation]], as the newsgroup itself was attacked both literally and figuratively. Tens of thousands of junk messages were [[spamming|spammed]] onto the newsgroup, rendering it nearly unreadable at times when the message "floods" were at their peaks.<ref name="flames"/> Over one million [[sporgery]] articles were injected into the newsgroup by Scientology management and staff; former Scientology staff member [[Tory Christman]] has spoken at length about her involvement in these attacks. Lawyers representing the Church of Scientology made public appeals to Internet service providers to remove the newsgroup completely from their news servers.<ref>{{Cite journal | url=http://www.discord.org/~lippard/skeptic/03.3.jl-jj-scientology.html | title=Scientology v. the Internet: Free Speech & Copyright Infringement on the Information Super-Highway | journal=[[Skeptic (American magazine)|Skeptic]] | publisher=[[The Skeptics Society]] | volume=3 | issue=3 | year=1995 | pages=35–41 | author=Lippard, Jim | author-link=Jim Lippard | author2=Jacobsen, Jeff | access-date=August 9, 2009 }}</ref> Furthermore, anonymous participants in the newsgroup kept up a steady stream of [[flame wars]] and off-topic arguments. Participants on the newsgroup accused Scientology of organising these electronic attacks, though the organization consistently denied any wrongdoing.

In the early days of the [[World Wide Web]], groups associated with Scientology employed a similar strategy to make finding websites critical of the organization more difficult. Scientology employed Web designers to write thousands of Web pages for their site, thus flooding early [[Web search engine|search engine]]s.<ref name="Web of their own"/>  After the advent of modern search engines, this problem was solved by the innovation of clustering responses from the same [[Web server]], so that no more than two results from any one site were shown.
  
Since 1995, Scientology has used copyright-infringement laws to prosecute critics posting controversial information about the organisation on the Web. The organization has been accused of employing not only legal pressure, but also [[blackmail]] and [[character assassination]] in an attempt to win many of the court cases in which it involves itself.<ref name="erlichfree">Freedom Magazine, Vol 27, Issue 4: [https://web.archive.org/web/19990116234531/http://www.theta.com/goodman/crime.htm ''A Crime By Any Other Name'']. See "Dennis Erlich: Copyright Terrorist". (Archived January 16th, 1999.)</ref>  On the other side of the battle, many Web-page developers have linked the words "Dianetics" and "Scientology" to [[Operation Clambake]]. This resulted in the anti-Scientology site having the highest [[Google index]] on the term for a while, which in turn resulted in Scientology persuading Google to remove links to the site<ref>{{cite news | author1= Matt Loney |author2= Evan Hansen | title = Google pulls anti-Scientology links | url = http://news.cnet.com/2100-1023-865936.html | publisher = [[CNet]] | date = 2002-03-21 | access-date = 2006-12-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090707014044/http://news.cnet.com/2100-1023-865936.html|archive-date=2009-07-07}}</ref> until international outcry led to the links being restored. This might be considered an early example of a [[Google bomb]], and has led to questions about the power and obligations of Internet search providers.

In the 1990s the Church of Scientology was distributing a [[Content-control software|special software package]] for its members to [[Internet censorship|'protect']] them from "unapproved" material about the organization. The software was designed to completely block out the newsgroup ''alt.religion.scientology'', various anti-Scientology web sites, and all references to various critics of Scientology. This software package was derided by critics, who accused the organization of censorship and called the program "[[Scieno Sitter]]", after the [[content-control software]] net-filter program Cyber Sitter. Since no updates have been reported since 1998 (and the original filter program only worked with [[Windows 95]]), the package is unlikely to be in use with recent operating systems and browsers due to [[software rot]].<ref name="Web of their own">{{cite news |first=Janelle |last=Brown |url=https://www.salon.com/1998/07/15/feature_299/ |title=A Web of their own |work=Salon |date=15 July 1998 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015191610/https://www.salon.com/1998/07/15/feature_299/ |archive-date=October 15, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In June 2006, Scientology lawyers sent [[cease-and-desist]] letters to [[Max Goldberg]], founder of the website [[YTMND]], asking him to take down all sites that either talked about or mocked Scientology, which had recently become a fad on the site following [[Trapped in the Closet (South Park episode)|a popular ''South Park'' episode]]. Goldberg responded by stating that the "claims are completely groundless and I'm not removing anything," adding to the members of the site, "it should only be a matter of time before we're sued out of existence." In response, YTMNDers created yet more sites about Scientology; these were highlighted on the main page. They also campaigned to [[Google bomb]] "The Unfunny Truth About Scientology" site. No legal action was taken against YTMND or Goldberg.

In August 2007, [[MSNBC]] quoted [[Associated Press]], in an article on the [[Wikipedia Scanner]], that computers owned by the Church of Scientology [[Church of Scientology editing on Wikipedia|had been removing criticism]] in the Scientology entry on Wikipedia.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130926201629/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/20284811/ New online tool traces Wikipedia edits: PCs in Scientology officialdom removed criticism in Church's entry], ''[[NBC News]]'', [[Associated Press]], [[Brian Bergstein]], August 15, 2007</ref> A [[Fox News]] article also reported that Church of Scientology computers had been used to delete references to the relationship between Scientology and the [[Cult Awareness Network]], in the article on the Cult Awareness Network on Wikipedia.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20071023054707/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,293389,00.html Wal-Mart, CIA, ExxonMobil Changed Wikipedia Entries], August 16, 2007, [[Fox News]], Rhys Blakely, Fox News Network, LLC.</ref> In May 2009, the Wikipedia Arbitration Committee decided to restrict access to its site from Church of Scientology IP addresses, to prevent self-serving edits by Scientologists.<ref name="Huff">{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/29/wikipedia-bans-scientolog_n_208967.html|last=Shea|first=Danny|title=Wikipedia Bans Scientology From Site|date=2009-05-29|work=The Huffington Post|access-date=2009-05-29}}</ref><ref name="Metz">{{cite web|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/05/29/wikipedia_bans_scientology/|title=Wikipedia bans Church of Scientology|last=Metz|first=Cade|date=2009-05-29|work=The Register|access-date=2009-05-29}}</ref> A "host of anti-Scientologist editors" were topic-banned as well.<ref name="Huff" /><ref name="Metz" /> The committee concluded that both sides had "gamed policy" and resorted to "battlefield tactics", with articles on living persons being the "worst casualties".<ref name="Huff" />

== 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.

== WikiLeaks ==
In March 2008, [[WikiLeaks]] published a 612-page Scientology manual on the eight [[Operating Thetan]] levels, considered secret by the Church of Scientology.<ref name=Fox>{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/watchdog-web-site-draws-legal-threats-from-scientologists-mormons |publisher=Fox News |title=Watchdog Web Site Draws Legal Threats from Scientologists, Mormons |date=2008-06-19}}</ref> Three weeks later, Wikileaks received a [[threat|warning]] from the Church of Scientology that the manual was copyrighted and that its publication infringed [[Anti-copyright|intellectual-property rights]].<ref name=Fox /> WikiLeaks refused to remove the material, and its operator released a statement saying that Scientology was a "[[cult]]" that "aids and abets a general climate of Western media [[self-censorship]]."<ref name=Fox /> A Church of Scientology International spokeswoman, writing to FOXNews.com, said: "I can only assume that religious bigotry and prejudice is driving their activity, as there is no altruistic value in posting our copyrighted scriptures, despite WikiLeaks' statements to the contrary. Posting entire books and hundreds of pages of published works is not 'Sunshine Policy' but wholesale copyright infringement."<ref name=Fox /> [[Julian Assange]] replied: "We thought it was a small issue, and our normal fare is government corruption and military secrets, so it seemed that this nutty religious organization was pretty inconsequential in terms of what we normally do. But after receiving these legal threats from them ... it was time for us to make a stand."<ref name=Fox />

== Notable legal actions ==
{{See also|Scientology and law}}

A few of the court cases ended with rulings in favor of Scientology, though most of the cases were settled out of court. Many cases have been criticized as examples of malicious litigation and its members and lawyers have been indicted and fined for such actions. Noteworthy incidents in the later years of the online war included:

* Scientology's lawsuit against ex-member [[Arnaldo Lerma]], his provider Digital Gateway, and ''The Washington Post.'' Lerma posted the [[Fishman Affidavit]] that contained 61 pages including the story of [[Xenu]], a story simultaneously denied and claimed as a trade secret by the Church of Scientology.<ref name="Net.Wars"/>{{Rp|9}}
* Zenon Panoussis, a resident of Sweden, was also sued for posting Scientology's copyrighted materials to the Internet. In his defense, he used a provision of the [[Constitution of Sweden]] that guarantees access to public documents. Panoussis turned over a copy of the NOTs documents to the office of the [[Swedish Parliament]] and, by law, copies of all documents (with few exceptions) received by authorities are available for anyone from the public to see, at any time he or she wishes. This, known as the Principle of Public Access (''Offentlighetsprincipen''), is considered a basic civil right in Sweden. The case, however, was decided against Panoussis. The results of his case sparked a legal firestorm in Sweden that debated the necessity of re-writing part of the Constitution.<ref name="ShortTake">{{cite web |url = http://news.cnet.com/Short+Take+Scientologists+win+Net+court+case/2110-1023_3-215586.html |title = Short Take: Scientologists win Net court case |access-date = 2007-08-10 |last = Macavinta |first = Courtney|date = 1998-09-15|work = [[CNET]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104092708/http://news.cnet.com/Short-Take-Scientologists-win-Net-court-case/2110-1023_3-215586.html|archive-date=2012-11-04}}</ref><ref name="ScientologistSettle">{{cite web |url = http://news.cnet.com/Scientologists+settle+legal+battle/2100-1023_3-223683.html?tag=item |title = Scientologists settle legal battle |access-date = 2007-08-10 |last = Macavinta |first = Courtney|date = 1999-03-30|work = [[CNET]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103052054/http://news.cnet.com/Scientologists-settle-legal-battle/2100-1023_3-223683.html|archive-date=2012-11-03}}</ref>
* In 1995 Scientology caused a raid on the servers of Dutch Internet provider [[XS4ALL]] and sued it and [[Karin Spaink]] for copyright violations arising from published excerpts from confidential materials. There followed a summary judgment in 1995, full proceedings in 1999, an appeal in 2003<ref name="spainking">{{cite web |url = http://news.cnet.com/2100-1028_3-5072581.html |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110616205912/http://news.cnet.com/2100-1028_3-5072581.html |url-status = dead |archive-date = 2011-06-16 |title = Scientology loss keeps hyperlinks legal |access-date = 2007-08-10 |last = Hines |first = Matt |date = 2003-09-08 |work = [[CNET]] }}</ref><ref name="LosesRegister">{{cite web
|url = https://www.theregister.co.uk/2003/09/08/scientologists_loses_copyright_case/ |title = Scientologists loses copyright case |access-date = 2007-08-10 |last = Libbenga |first = Jan |date = 2003-09-08 |website = [[The Register]]}}</ref> which has been upheld by the Supreme Court of Netherlands in December 2005, all in favor of the provider and Karin Spaink.<ref name="xs4allpr">[http://www.religionnewsblog.com/13054/final-victory-xs4all-and-karin-spaink-win-scientology-battle Final Victory! XS4ALL and Karin Spaink Win Scientology Battle], Press Release, December 16, 2005</ref>
* [[Dennis Erlich]] and Scientology settled their lawsuits. Erlich withdrew from the online battle entirely, and all mention of him was removed from Church of Scientology material.<ref name="Net.Wars"/>{{Rp|1, 4, 6–9}}<ref name="erlichfree"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://home.snafu.de/tilman/mystory/dennis_final_judgement.txt|title='''RTC v. Dennis Erlich'' Stipulated Final Judgement and Permanent Injunction}}</ref>
* Activist [[Keith Henson]] was sued for posting a portion of Scientology's writings to the Internet. Henson defended himself in court without a lawyer, while at the same time he carried out protests and pickets against Scientology. The court found that Henson had committed copyright infringement, and the damage award against Henson was $75,000, an amount which Scientology said was the largest damages ever awarded against an individual for copyright infringement. Henson's case became increasingly more complex and ongoing, with a misdemeanor conviction of interfering with religion in [[Riverside County, California]]. In his Internet writings, Henson said that he was forced to flee the United States and seek [[political asylum|asylum]] in Canada due to ongoing threats against him.<ref name="Net.Wars"/><ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_6320693 |title = Scientology critic seeks pardon |access-date = 2007-08-11|last = Zapler|first = Mike |date = 2007-07-07|work = [[San Jose Mercury News]]}}</ref>{{Rp|10}}
* Scientology was one of the first organizations to make use of the [[Digital Millennium Copyright Act]] (DMCA). In June 1999, Scientology used the controversial law to force [[AT&T Worldnet]] to reveal the identity of a person who had been posting anonymously to ''alt.religion.scientology'' with the pseudonym of "Safe".<ref name="UnSafe">{{cite web |url = http://news.cnet.com/2100-1023-226676.html |title = Scientology subpoenas Worldnet |access-date = 2007-08-10|last = Goodin|first = Dan |date = 1999-06-03|work = [[CNET]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616205921/http://news.cnet.com/2100-1023-226676.html|archive-date=2011-06-16 }}</ref>
*In March 2001, legal threats from Scientology lawyers forced [[Slashdot]] to remove text from one of its discussion boards, after an excerpt from [[Xenu|OT III]] was posted there. Slashdot noted this as the first time a comment had to be removed from its system due to copyright concerns, and retaliated by posting a list of links to anti-Scientology websites.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://slashdot.org/yro/01/03/16/1256226.shtml |title = Scientologists Force Comment Off Slashdot |access-date = 2007-09-05|date = 2001-03-16|work = [[Slashdot]]}}</ref>
* The organization also used the DMCA to force the [[Google]] search engine to erase its entries on the controversial anti-Scientology Web site ''[[Operation Clambake]]'' in March 2002, though the entry was reinstated after Google received a large number of complaints from Internet users. The publicity stemming from this incident led Google to begin submitting DMCA takedown notices it received to the [[Chilling Effects]] archive, which archives legal threats of all sorts made against Internet users and Internet sites.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.linuxjournal.com/article/5997|title=Google Begins Making DMCA Takedowns Public &#124; Linux Journal|website=www.linuxjournal.com}}</ref><ref name="Silence"/>
* In September 2002, lawyers for Scientology contacted [[Internet Archive]] (archive.org), the administrators of the [[Internet Archive#Wayback Machine|Wayback Machine]] and asserted copyright claims on certain materials archived as historical contents of the [[Operation Clambake]] site. In response, the Wayback Machine administration removed the archive of the ''entire'' Clambake site, initially posting a false claim that the site's author had requested its removal. A search would return a "Blocked Site Error" from the Wayback archive. The claim has since been removed.<ref name="Silence">{{cite web | first = Lisa M.| last = Bowman| title = Net archive silences Scientology critic| url = http://www.news.com/2100-1023-959236.html| website = [[CNET]] | date = 2002-09-24| access-date = 2007-09-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081012045656/http://www.news.com/2100-1023-959236.html |archive-date=October 12, 2008}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Streisand effect]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|refs=

<ref name="alt.scientology.war"> {{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/1995/12/alt-scientology-war/ |title=alt.scientology.war |last=Grossman |first=Wendy M. |author-link=Wendy M. Grossman |date=December 1, 1995 |magazine=[[Wired magazine]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990423192737/http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/3.12/alt.scientology.war_pr.html |archive-date=April 23, 1999 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="hicks">{{Cite web |title=How the Church of Scientology fought the Internet—and why it lost |date=September 20, 2015 |first=Jesse |last=Hicks |url=https://kernelmag.dailydot.com/issue-sections/features-issue-sections/14384/scientology-versus-the-internet-going-clear/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201113044635/https://kernelmag.dailydot.com/issue-sections/features-issue-sections/14384/scientology-versus-the-internet-going-clear/ |archive-date=November 13, 2020 |work=[[The Kernel]]}}</ref>

<ref name="rinder">{{cite book |title=A Billion Years: My Escape From a Life in the Highest Ranks of Scientology |first=Mike |last=Rinder |author-link=Mike Rinder |year=2022 |publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]] |isbn=9781982185763}}</ref>

}}

== Further reading ==
* {{Cite web |url=http://www.discord.org/~lippard/skeptic/03.3.jl-jj-scientology.html |title=Scientology v. the Internet: Free Speech & Copyright Infringement on the Information Super-Highway |work=[[Skeptic (American magazine)|Skeptic]] |volume=3 |issue=3 |date=1995 |pages=35–41 |first1=Jim |last1=Lippard |author1-link=Jim Lippard |first2=Jeff |last2=Jacobsen}}
* {{cite web | first = Jennifer | last = Bjorhus | title = Scientology Critics Claim Harassment For Using Internet | url = http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=2138183&date=19950826 | work = [[Seattle Times]] | date = 1995-08-26 | access-date = 2008-10-14 }}
* {{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-23273109 |title=How Scientology changed the internet |date=17 July 2013 |first=Dave |last=Lee |work=[[BBC News]]}}
* {{Cite web |title=Before "Going Clear," WikiLeaks Was One of Scientology's First Major Threats |url=https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/a/jason-duaine-hahn/scientology-going-clear-wikileaks |first=Jason Duaine |last=Hahn |date=March 29, 2015 |work=[[Complex Networks|Complex]]}}
* {{Cite web |title=Scientology's Internet Wars |url=https://www.watchman.org/articles/scientology/scientologys-internet-wars/ |date=1996 |website=Watchman Fellowship}}

== External links ==
{{wikisource|Religious Technology Center vs. Netcom}}
{{Commons category|Scientology versus the Internet}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6KM27TUsvM BBC video: ''Scientology v The Internet'' May 15, 1995]
* {{Cite web |url=https://w2.eff.org/legal/cases/Scientology_cases/ |website=EFF Electronic Frontier Foundation |title=Legal Cases - Church of Scientology |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202035755/https://w2.eff.org/legal/cases/Scientology_cases/ |archive-date=2017-02-02 |date=March 13, 2003}}
* {{Cite web |url=http://machinist.salon.com/blog/2008/01/16/scientology/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080306175534/http://machinist.salon.com/blog/2008/01/16/scientology/index.html |archive-date=March 6, 2008 |title=Scientology fails to delete crazy Tom Cruise video |work=Salon |date=January 16, 2008}}
* {{Cite web |url=http://religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu/nrms/scientology_briefing.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060829155933/http://religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu/nrms/scientology_briefing.html |archive-date=August 29, 2006 |title=Briefing Re: The Church of Scientology and the Internet |date=30 June 2000}}

{{Scientology and the Internet|state=expanded}}
{{Scientology}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Scientology Versus The Internet}}
[[Category:Scientology and the Internet| ]]
[[Category:Articles containing video clips]]
[[Category:Computer law]]
[[Category:Digital Millennium Copyright Act takedown incidents]]
[[Category:Scientology and society]]