Press Release
International outcry against Indymedia server seizure
Contact: Timothy Karr, 201-533-8838
[Washington] - Free Press today issued a statement of support for Indymedia, an independent online news network with over 140 local affiliates, whose servers were seized last week in an international police operation of questionable legality. Free Press joins a growing number of prominent groups calling for a full independent investigation into the police action.
"It's particularly troubling that this kind of pressure is being put on a grassroots outlet like Indymedia at the same moment that media giant Sinclair is forcing their stations into running partisan attacks as news programming — and getting away with it," said Free Press founder Robert W. McChesney. "Our real concern should be with Sinclair’s hijacking of the public airwaves, not jetting across the globe to suppress innovative online journalism."
On October 7th, two hard drives belonging to the Independent Media Center network were seized from the US-owned, London-based web hosting company Rackspace, apparently at the request of Italian or Swiss authorities acting in concert with British police and the FBI.
The seizure of the drives shut down an online radio station and 21 local Indymedia websites, including those serving Western Massachusetts, Ambazonia, Uruguay, Andorra, Poland, Nice, Nantes, Lilles, Marseille, Euskal Herria (Basque Country), Liege, East and West Vlaanderen, Antwerpen (all Belgium), Belgrade, Portugal, Prague, Galiza, Italy, Brazil, the UK, and parts of Germany.
A wide range of groups including the International Federation of Journalists, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, the World Association of Community Radios, and many others immediately issued support statements demanding the return of the two servers, an independent investigation into the police action, and prosecution of any violations of domestic or international law by the government agencies involved.
On October 13, one week after the seizures and amidst steadily mounting public outcry, the two drives were returned to Rackspace. However, there is still near-total information blackout from the authorities in the US, UK, Switzerland and Italy, while Rackspace, most likely due to a gag order, continues to refuse all requests for information. It remains unclear just who ordered the seizures, who took the servers, why the seizures took place, and whether there will be an independent investigation and prosecution of any legal violations by the authorities.
"Even while Big Media lobbyists argue that widespread access to the internet has rendered limits to consolidation obsolete, government agencies are taking action across borders to stifle independent online media outlets like Indymedia," said McChesney. "This action is an assault on freedom of the press that sets a troubling precedent of intergovernmental action to suppress independent journalism."
Free Press (www.freepress.net) is a national non-partisan organization that seeks to increase informed public participation in media policy and to promote a more competitive, public interest-oriented media system. It was founded by University of Illinois professor, media scholar and author Robert McChesney.
"It's particularly troubling that this kind of pressure is being put on a grassroots outlet like Indymedia at the same moment that media giant Sinclair is forcing their stations into running partisan attacks as news programming — and getting away with it," said Free Press founder Robert W. McChesney. "Our real concern should be with Sinclair’s hijacking of the public airwaves, not jetting across the globe to suppress innovative online journalism."
On October 7th, two hard drives belonging to the Independent Media Center network were seized from the US-owned, London-based web hosting company Rackspace, apparently at the request of Italian or Swiss authorities acting in concert with British police and the FBI.
The seizure of the drives shut down an online radio station and 21 local Indymedia websites, including those serving Western Massachusetts, Ambazonia, Uruguay, Andorra, Poland, Nice, Nantes, Lilles, Marseille, Euskal Herria (Basque Country), Liege, East and West Vlaanderen, Antwerpen (all Belgium), Belgrade, Portugal, Prague, Galiza, Italy, Brazil, the UK, and parts of Germany.
A wide range of groups including the International Federation of Journalists, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, the World Association of Community Radios, and many others immediately issued support statements demanding the return of the two servers, an independent investigation into the police action, and prosecution of any violations of domestic or international law by the government agencies involved.
On October 13, one week after the seizures and amidst steadily mounting public outcry, the two drives were returned to Rackspace. However, there is still near-total information blackout from the authorities in the US, UK, Switzerland and Italy, while Rackspace, most likely due to a gag order, continues to refuse all requests for information. It remains unclear just who ordered the seizures, who took the servers, why the seizures took place, and whether there will be an independent investigation and prosecution of any legal violations by the authorities.
"Even while Big Media lobbyists argue that widespread access to the internet has rendered limits to consolidation obsolete, government agencies are taking action across borders to stifle independent online media outlets like Indymedia," said McChesney. "This action is an assault on freedom of the press that sets a troubling precedent of intergovernmental action to suppress independent journalism."
Free Press (www.freepress.net) is a national non-partisan organization that seeks to increase informed public participation in media policy and to promote a more competitive, public interest-oriented media system. It was founded by University of Illinois professor, media scholar and author Robert McChesney.
