Anonymous Backs Off Its Threat to Dox Missouri Police Chief's Daughter
On Sunday night, the network of hactivists known as Anonymous released an impassioned video demand for justice in the killing of unarmed black teen Michael Brown by police in Ferguson, Missouri. But a specific Anonymous threat against county Police Chief Jon Belmar this afternoon backfired in a big way.
Amid street unrest and massive police action in Ferguson today, Anonymous' #OpFerguson campaign took a serious turn when the hacktivists addressed the police department's reluctance to swiftly identify the specific police officer who had shot Brown, 18, repeatedly as he held his arms up in the middle of a Ferguson street.
Media outlets, activists, and the Brown family's attorneys immediately called foul on the police department for not identifying that shooter, who could face civil or criminal action for his role in Brown's death. In solidarity, one Anonymous account made a specific threat tied to the release of that information:
Jon Belmar, if you dont release the officer's name, we're releasing your daughter's info. You have one hour. #Ferguson
RT so he sees this.
— TheAnonMessage (@TheAnonMessage) August 12, 2014
A subsequent tweet suggested Anonymous was not kidding around.
30 Minutes...
(Somebody better tell him. #Ferguson)
— TheAnonMessage (@TheAnonMessage) August 12, 2014
The threats, however, brought a swift backlash from other Twitter users, who failed to see the fairness in potentially exposing Chief Belmar's daughter to scrutiny.
@TheAnonMessage why? What's his daughter got to do with this?
— Brian Biscieglia (@BrianBiscieglia) August 12, 2014
@TheAnonMessage that's fuckin cowardly bro. Fuckin low.
— AnonyMc (@Anonymac) August 12, 2014
@TheAnonMessage this is not ok, idc. Stop the violence and blood shed. Ferguson should release his name, but this is just wrong and pathetic
— Cum in Peace ☮ (@Yaremisxo) August 12, 2014
.@RustBeltExpat @TheAnonMessage that's a bullshit argument. Leave the persons daughter out of it. #Ferguson
— M-Bola (@brooklynmike21) August 12, 2014
oh piss off pic.twitter.com/WRIydEXoTS
— Brandon Wall (@Walldo) August 12, 2014
Importantly, other users purporting to be connected with Anonymous—which is not an organized group—were not united in supporting that @TheAnonMessage's tactics. (Update: A reader informs us that @AnonRelations is known in the community as an anti-Anonymous troll account):
@TheAnonMessage how about we release ur info and rip that sense of anonymity from ur followers? retract your statement threatening a kid.
— Anonymous Relations (@AnonRelations) August 12, 2014
Apparently, that onslaught convinced @TheAnonMessage to rethink its strategy:
We have recognized that releasing vital information on Belmar's family is damaging to the overall message of justice for Mike Brown.
— TheAnonMessage (@TheAnonMessage) August 12, 2014
Thereafter, the account's users attempted to articulate their position:
We will therefore cease in releasing any more information on Belmar's family. We still continue to demand the release of the officer's name.
— TheAnonMessage (@TheAnonMessage) August 12, 2014
We recognize that Jon Belmar has had enough damage done to him. We will save the rest of our energy for the true perpetrator. #Ferguson
— TheAnonMessage (@TheAnonMessage) August 12, 2014
We cannot be responsible for jeopardizing the investigation or demoralizing the movement.
— TheAnonMessage (@TheAnonMessage) August 12, 2014
Jon, I hope you learned your lesson. #Ferguson
— TheAnonMessage (@TheAnonMessage) August 12, 2014