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Online -- think before you act

Whilst I totally endorse the thrust of sentiments expressed by the internet hacking group Anonymous NZ when they uploaded a video yesterday criticising the rights-stealing legislation currently proposed by the National Government -- I think these guys need to stop and think before they act.

In hacking National Party websites, the group has effectively handed the government victory on a plate. The politicians now have the high ground and will no doubt trot out claims that "this is why we need this new legislation".

They'll tell us that without the power to have the GCSB investigate and monitor potential "terrorists" like Anonymous NZ, the security and reliability of key parts of our communications infrastructure is now at risk.

Of course it's FUD - but remember, the public don't know that.

Anonymous NZ, for all their good intentions, have simply handed the government a fist-full of ammo for their legislative cannon.

I find it sad that so many people think that the internet is a sure-fire way to make a point or prove their case -- it's not.

Another great example of this is the online petition...

Every day I get folk who ask me to sign or promote online petitions for one thing or another. Mostly I just ignore these solicitations, and I'll tell you why.

When you run a petition you run the risk of handing your adversary or the party you're lobbying another fist-full of ammo.

Take this petition for example.

Yes, it would be wonderful if we got a million or more people signing that petition and showing, by strength of numbers, that the people of NZ are strongly opposed to the planned changes to the laws affecting the GCSB.

Unfortunately, even though it's been going for several weeks, this petition has gained less than 3,000 supporters.

That is *not* a big number, especially when you consider that there are probably 2 million Net-connected Kiwis out there who are in a position to voice their support by way of a virtual signature on this page. Indeed, right now the government could use this petition to strengthen its own claim of a mandate by saying "less than 0.1% of people have signed a petition opposing the proposed legislation -- 99.9% have not"

Owch!

As I tell folk who say "let's start an online petition" -- make sure you have the numbers first or it has enormous potential to backfire by proving that nobody really cares.

Just like Anonymous NZ, the instigator of this poll has the best of intentions but before people engage in any online lobbying or cyber-action they really need to stand back and think the whole thing through. You must, at all costs, avoid handing your adversary a victory through your own poor planning.

Now I'm about to "rip CAA a new one" and yes, I will be using the Net as a tool in that campaign (I'll also be using the mainstream media, public opinion and the attention of Ministers). It has taken weeks of planning to finalise the strategy and plan of action involved in ensuring that this government organisation is called to account and made to do the job for which its bureaucrats are so handsomely paid.

I'm sure readers will watch the story unfold and I hope I've covered my bases, dotted my i's and crossed my t's such that the desired outcome is achieved. However, I'm smart enough to know that even the best laid plans can go astray -- but at least I'm not going to just hack their website in frustration :-)

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