A clandestine group of gay, furry hackers known as SiegedSec has recently targeted a prominent far-right media outlet, Real America’s Voice, in retaliation for what they describe as the channel’s ongoing dissemination of misinformation and transphobic content. This action is part of a broader initiative dubbed OpTransRights, aimed at combatting media outlets and organizations that propagate hate towards the transgender community.
The media outlet, owned by the enigmatic business mogul Robert Sigg, is a well-known platform for far-right figures such as Steve Bannon and Charlie Kirk. It regularly features content rife with conspiracy theories, including those surrounding COVID-19, the 2020 election, and QAnon ideologies. By selecting this target, SiegedSec aimed to challenge the foundation of misinformation and bias directly.
According to their public statements, SiegedSec managed to access and release personal details of over 1,200 users of the outlet’s app. This data included sensitive information such as full names, phone numbers, and email addresses, marking a significant breach in privacy. Furthermore, they wiped significant data sets from the outlet’s servers, effectively “going poof on their files,” as described in their communications.
The Ethical Quandary of Hacktivism
This event raises poignant questions about the morality and implications of hacktivism. While some view these acts as necessary for drawing attention to serious issues of bigotry and misinformation, others worry about the potential backlash against the LGBTQ+ community. SiegedSec itself has acknowledged concerns that their actions might be misconstrued as criminal or terrorist in nature.
Despite these risks, the group remains committed to their cause. They believe that their actions, while bold, are essential responses to the persistent and harmful narratives that target and marginalize queer people. Their statement emphasized the inevitability of criticism from those entrenched in transphobic ideologies, regardless of the tactics employed by LGBTQ+ advocates.
A Series of Provocative Actions
This is not SiegedSec’s first foray into high-profile hacktivism. Their previous targets include a religious organization and a major U.S. nuclear laboratory, where they whimsically demanded research into “real-life cat-girls,” showcasing their flair for merging serious activism with elements of playful defiance. These continuous actions underscore a pattern of strategic, albeit controversial, interventions intended to challenge systemic issues and inspire change within and beyond the LGBTQ+ community.