The Anonymous group which is known for several DDOS attacks around the world has petitioned Mr Obama that DDOS should be recognized as a legitimate form of protest.
The group has claimed that DDOS is not a form of “hacking” and is nothing different from “Occupy” protest. See report here
Though the request is unlikely to be considered by the US Government, it nevertheless gives some food for thought on how do we facilitate genuine forms of protests in Cyber Space.
Naavi has already suggested one form of “Cyber Protest” which is a Cyber Law Compliant form of protest.
Naavi had also earlier suggested in respect of objectionable contents a form of publishing an opposing point of view like a rejoinder. A similar process can also be used for the kind of DDOS protests that Anonymous is now suggesting.
In this form of protest the DDOS attack will only pop out a message which will briefly obscure the content much like the “interstitial advertisements”. Perhaps this system will satisfy both the Anonymous as well as the regulators.
If Obama administration considers such a request then it will usher in a new era of democratization of the Internet and protection of Human Rights of the Netizens.
Naavi