Lulua
10-11-2001, 16:17
Assalaamu alaikum ya muslimeen.
Peace and good day to all.
The many freedoms that so many of us the world over seem to take for granted are truly of relevance, according to the times and the situations involved.
Following is an extensive list of only some of the non-human casualties which are a direct result of terrorism, and although these casualties are truly non-human, yet they do affect our daily lives truly.
================================================== ===============Chilling Effects of Anti-Terrorism
"National Security" Toll on Freedom of Expression
http://eff.org/Censorship/Terrorism_militias/antiterrorism_chill.html
The right to free speech faces the strongest challenges during times of crisis.
Whether or not any of us agree about each particular decision made to prevent
public access to sensitive information, it is the Electronic Frontier
Foundation's responsibility to chart any such efforts so that we as a society
are at least aware of what is no longer available to us.
This page attempts to convey the chilling effect that responses to the terrorist
attacks of September 11, 2001, have had on information availability on the
Internet as well as some sense of the effect on people trying to provide this
information.
Currently, this page tracks the following:
Websites Shut Down by US Government
Websites Shut Down by Other Governments
Websites Shut Down by Internet Service Provider
Websites Shut Down or Partially Removed by Website Owner
US Government Websites That Shut Down or Removed Information
US Government Requests to Remove Information
Media Professionals Terminated or Suspended
Other Employees Terminated or Suspended
Related Incidents
Related Links
If you know of a anti-terrorism chilling effect that should be listed here,
please email freespeech@eff.org
Feel free to mirror this page on other websites, just please link back to the
original on this page.
Websites Shut Down by US Government
None reported.
Websites Shut Down by Other Governments
qoqaz.net
Reportedly shut down by British government because prosecutors allege that the
site was affiliated with London-based Azzam Publications and urged support of
terrorism to defend Muslims in the Caucasus, "donating money for the Taliban,"
and "military training for the battle," Wall Street Journal / MSNBC, October 8,
2001
Sakina Securities
The Sakina Securities website at was shut down on Oct. 5, the same day the
British government arrested Sulayman Balal Zainulabidin for allegedly "providing
training or instruction in the making of firearms, explosives or chemical,
biological or nuclear weapons and inviting others to do the same," Wired News /
Reuters, October 4, 2001, and Newsbytes.com, October 12, 2001
Websites Shut Down by Internet Service Provider
allewislive.com
This site from Al Lewis, who played Grandpa on the Munsters television show, was
shut down apparently by web hosting provider Hypervine for an unknown reason,
although other information from Al Lewis is available at
http://www.grandpa2000.org/, Politech, October 2, 2001, and USA Today, October
16, 2001, and Internet.com, October 18, 2001, and Wired, October 26, 2001
azzam.com
This site reportedly provides "authentic news and information about Jihad and
the foreign Mujahideen everywhere, by providing stories of martyrs killed in
Afghanistan, Bosnia and Chechnya" and says it doesn’t encourage readers to
commit illegal acts, although it notes that, according to Islamic tenets,
"martyrdom operations are permissible", and was apparently shut down by multiple
ISPs, at least one apparently in response to an FBI request, while the site was
also apparently at one point mirrored at the now no longer available
qoqaz.co.za, Wall Street Journal / MSNBC, October 8, 2001
iraradio.com
This pro-IRA site which archives all Radio Free Eireann broadcasts, has been
taken down because the web service provider Hypervine felt that the Bush
administration's announcement of the new Office of Homeland Security's
activities threatened the ISP with seizure of their assets if they continued to
host "terrorist" radio programs, so the site owners plan to reopen probably on a
Canadian server after they move into their new office later this year, Politech,
October 2, 2001, and Guardian Unlimited, October 11, 2001, and USA Today,
October 16, 2001, and Internet.com, October 18, 2001, and Wired, October 26,
2001
Jihad-Related Sites on Yahoo
Yahoo apparently removed 55 "jihad-related" sites, Wall Street Journal / MSNBC,
October 8, 2001
Websites Shut Down or Partially Removed by Website Owner
Amazon Removes a Startling Book Jacket
Amazon.com has removed a photograph of a Arabic book jacket that shows a plane
flying through the top of a building under construction in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia,
that has a top shaped like the eye of a needle, with the only link to the World
Trade Center being that the Riyadh building is being financed by Prince Alwaleed
bin Talal bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud, whose $10 million donation to the Twin Towers
Fund was recently refused by Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani of New York, because
along with expressing condolences, the prince urged the United States to
re-examine its policy toward Israel, New York Times, October 29, 2001
Barbra Streisand Removed Anti-Bush Articles
Barbra Streisand apparently removed anti-Bush articles from her website, saying,
"In light of recent events, I strongly believe we must support our government
despite our disagreements on certain policies, such as those relating to
environmental, educational, social and other specific issues. My past concerns
about such matters still pertain, but at this point in time, I have removed
several articles from my website in an effort to encourage national unity
instead of partisan divisions. Thank you," then ironically complains about the
Los Angeles Times refusing to run two columns by Ariana Huffington (covered
elsewhere on this page), The List from John Aravosis, October 31, 2001
Bert Is Evil!
Although it is not clear if this happened due to strange reports of Islamic
fundamentalists holding posters containing an image of Sesame Street's Bert
character right next to Osama Bin Laden, the owner of this site, Dino Ignacio,
explained that he removed the site because "I feel this has gotten too close to
reality and I choose to be responsible enough to stop it right here," Bert Is
Evil, October 18, 2001
Federation of American Scientists
Steven Aftergood, who administers the Project on Government Secrecy for the
Federation of American Scientists, has pulled from more than 200 pages of
previously posted information out of concern that terrorists might find them
useful, including floor plans of National Security Agency and Central
Intelligence Agency facilities and images of foreign nuclear weapons plants,
Newsfactor Network, October 5, 2001, and SiliconValley.com / Reuters, October
11, 2001, and WashingtonPost.com / Newsbytes, October 11, 2001, and
SiliconValley.com, October 11, 2001, and ABCNews.com / Good Morning America,
October 15, 2001, and Contra Costa Times, October 18, 2001
The Flagburning Page
This owner of this site explained that because "Congress is trying to change the
constitution in order to put peaceful protesters in prison" and although "I have
never burned a flag, nor do I ever want to" he has "had so many death threats
and assaulting emails, that I choose no longer to care about this cause. I have
fought an uphill battle to protect your freedom of speech. And now I give up,"
although the site is back on the web as of October 31, 2001, The FlagBurning
Page, September 19, 2001, and Internet.com, October 18, 2001, and Wired, October
26, 2001
Google Un-Cached
Google has approached government agencies and private organizations, offering to
remove from their "cache" the web pages that were removed from other sites,
ABCNews.com / Good Morning America, October 15, 2001, and Contra Costa Times,
October 18, 2001
MSNBC Removes Item on Congressional Coverage Restrictions
MSNBC removed from an article formerly entitled "Ashcroft Seeks Sweeping Powers"
and now called "House Approves $343 Billion Defense Bill" a section about how
the House Judiciary Committee's Republican staffers ordered television camera
crews to leave a hearing on terrorist attacks after Ashcroft spoke but before
civil liberties and free-speech advocates could testify, Media Alliance Project,
September 24, 2001, and Yahoo Stop Police Abuse Group, September 27, 2001
Planned Parenthood Temporarily Removes RoevBush.com
Planned Parenthood has temporarily removed its RoevBush.com website apparently
in a show of unity with the Bush administration in the aftermath of the
terrorist attacks, The List from John Aravosis, October 31, 2001
WhatDemocracy.com Removes Controversial Content
The WhatDemocracy.com website has temporarily removed its content critical of
"right-wing politics, including President Bush and the Republican Party" in the
aftermath of the terrorist attacks "due to the potential of endangerment to our
staff" and noting that "we would love to address the current terrorism
situation, and we should have the RIGHT to SAFELY address our opinions, but who
will step up to the plate and protect us, and how?," November 2, 2001
US Government Websites That Shut Down or Removed Information
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
OMB Watch, a Washington group that advocates for government accountability in
budgetary and regulatory matters, says the Agency for Toxic Substances and
Disease Registry dropped a report critical of chemical plant security,
Newsfactor Network, October 4, 2001, and Newsfactor Network, October 5, 2001
Army Corps of Engineers
The Army Corps of Engineers site that contained information about an underground
military command center near Washington was moved behind a firewall so a
username and password are now required for access, ABCNews.com / Good Morning
America, October 15, 2001
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
OMB Watch, a Washington group that advocates for government accountability in
budgetary and regulatory matters, says the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention has pulled a report about lack of preparedness against a terrorist
attack using poison gas or other chemical agents, Newsfactor Network, October 5,
2001, and USA Today, October 12, 2001 (updated October 18, 2001), and Federal
Computer Week, October 16, 2001
Department of Energy, National Transportation of Radioactive Materials
The Department of Energy, National Transportation of Radioactive Materials site
has been replaced with the note "This site temporarily unavailable, Please
contact Bobby Sanchez at 505-845-5541 if you have any questions," OMB Watch
Post-September 11 Environment, October 26, 2001
Department of Transportation
OMB Watch, a Washington group that advocates for government accountability in
budgetary and regulatory matters, says the Department of Transportation has
limited access to the National Pipeline Mapping System of the Office of Pipeline
Safety, which lays out the network of high pressure natural gas pipelines
throughout the nation and the site of the Geographic Information Services
section of the DOT's Bureau of Transportation Services (BTS) reports that
"Recent events have focused additional security concerns on transportation
infrastructure" and "Due to these concerns, BTS will not provide unlimited
access to the geospatial data through the Internet," Newsfactor Network, October
4, 2001, and Newsfactor Network, October 5, 2001, and SiliconValley.com /
Reuters, October 11, 2001, and USA Today, October 12, 2001 (updated October 18,
2001), and ABCNews.com / Good Morning America, October 15, 2001, and Federal
Computer Week, October 16, 2001
Environmental Protection Agency
OMB Watch, a Washington group that advocates for government accountability in
budgetary and regulatory matters, says the EPA has pulled from its site Risk
Management Plans, which contain detailed information about the dangers of
chemical accidents -- such as toxic plume maps and emergency response plans
after a refinery explosion, Newsfactor Network, October 4, 2001, and Newsfactor
Network, October 5, 2001, and SiliconValley.com / Reuters, October 11, 2001, and
USA Today, October 12, 2001 (updated October 18, 2001), and ABCNews.com / Good
Morning America, October 15, 2001, and Federal Computer Week, October 16, 2001,
and Washington Post / Newsbytes.com, October 26, 2001
Federal Aviation Administration
OMB Watch, a Washington group that advocates for government accountability in
budgetary and regulatory matters, says the Federal Aviation Administration has
pulled data from a site listing enforcement violations such as weaknesses in
airport security, Newsfactor Network, October 5, 2001, and ABCNews.com, October
12, 2001
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, has removed documents that detail
specifications for energy facilities from its website, Contra Costa Times,
October 18, 2001
Geographic Information Services
OMB Watch, a Washington group that advocates for government accountability in
budgetary and regulatory matters, says the Geographic Information Services,
which provides highly detailed maps of roads and utilities, is limiting access
to federal, state, and local government officials, Newsfactor Network, October
5, 2001
International Nuclear Safety Center
Selecting the Reactor Maps link from the front page of this site generates the
following message: "If you requested access to the maps of nuclear power reactor
locations, these maps have been taken off-line temporarily pending the outcome
of a policy review by the US Department of Energy and Argonne National
Laboratory," while their Power Reactors database still lists city and state for
nuclear plants around the world, International Nuclear Safety Center, October
18, 2001
Los Alamos National Laboratory
The Los Alamos National Laboratory has removed a number of reports from its
Laboratory Publications page, OMB Watch Post-September 11 Environment, October
26, 2001
NASA Glenn Research Center
The NASA Glenn Research Center website notes that "Public access to many of our
web sites is temporarily limited. We apologize for any inconvenience," OMB Watch
Post-September 11 Environment, October 26, 2001
National Atlas of the United States
The Nuclear Site Locations in the United States page of this site is missing
though listed as a result with a broken link and no cache on a Google search for
"nuclear site location map", National Atlas of the United States, October 18,
2001
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
The New Jersey officials removed from the Internet "for security reasons
temporarily" some Web pages that officials fear could be useful to terrorists in
planning attacks, in particular the Department of Environmental Protection
recently removed a database listing the hazardous chemicals and substances used
or stored at 33,000 businesses throughout the state, as well as maps of
reservoirs, Associated Press / SiliconValley.com, October 26, 2001, and
Washington Post / Newsbytes.com, October 26, 2001
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is displaying only "only select content" while
"performing a review of all material" on their website, although most of the
information has been there for years and "nothing top secret was on the Web site
to begin with," according to William Beecher of the NRC, ABCNews.com, October
12, 2001, and USA Today, October 12, 2001 (updated October 18, 2001), and
ABCNews.com / Good Morning America, October 15, 2001, and Federal Computer Week,
October 16, 2001, and Contra Costa Times, October 18, 2001
U.S. Geological Survey
The U.S. Geological Survey has removed a number of pages from its Registered
Online Water-Resources Reports database (search for "removed"), OMB Watch
Post-September 11 Environment, October 26, 2001
US Government Requests to Remove Information
Al-Jazeera
Bush administration national security adviser Condoleezza Rice called network
executives to request that they "exercise judgment" in broadcasting messages
from Osama bin Laden received through the Al-Jazeera satellite network while
Secretary of State Colin Powell claimed the broadcasts may contain "some kind of
message", and in response CNN, Fox, and other networks agreed to review
statements before airing them, Associated Press, October 10, 2001
Globalsecurity.org
According to John Pike of Globalsecurity.org, low-level military officials
requested he remove data he had gathered from military websites, ABCNews.com /
Good Morning America, October 15, 2001, and Wired, October 26, 2001
Voice of America
Journalists from the Voice of America who obtained an interview with Taliban
leader Mullah Mohammed Omar managed to publish a modified version of the
interview only after struggles within the Bush administration, Washington Post,
September 26, 2001
Media Professionals Terminated or Suspended
Oneida Daily Dispatch Fires Editors
The Oneida Daily Dispatch apparently fired Managing Editor Jean Ryan and City
Editor Dale Seth for publishing an editorial including these remarks, "Until
1948, there was no Israel. The United Nations took Palestinian land and gave it
to a number of Jewish terrorists to rule -- Jewish terrorists who had bombed and
killed Palestinians and others in an effort to force hands of power to see an
Israel formed. Today's freedom fighter, in many cases, was yesterday's
terrorist," Associated Press, October 19, 2001, and Nile Media, October 24, 2001
National Review Cans Columnist Ann Coulter
The National Review told conservative columnist Ann Coulter her writing is no
longer welcome after one of her columns declared, "We should invade their
countries, kill their leaders and convert them to Christianity," while the
Washington Times refused to run the terrorism column in the first place,
Washington Post, October 2, 2001
Daily Courier Fires Columnist
The Daily Courier publisher Dennis Mack fired columnist Dan Guthrie for writing
about President Bush "hiding in a Nebraska hole" following terrorist attacks,
TBO.com / Associated Press, September 26, 2001
Los Angeles Times Stifles Arianna Huffington
The Los Angeles Times apparently refused to print a column from Arianna
Huffington defending Bill Maher and a column bemoaning 'unity' that results in
approval of a faulty missile defense shield, capital gains tax cuts, and
drilling in in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, both of which Barbara
Streisand has published on her website, September 24, 2001
Politically Incorrect
When ABC satirist Bill Maher said on his show, "Politically Incorrect," that "we
have been the cowards lobbing cruise missiles from 2,000 miles away -- that's
cowardly," three ABC affiliates, including Washington's WJLA-TV, answered viewer
complaints by yanking subsequent episodes from the air, Arianna Online (the LA
Times apparently refused to print some of Ariana's columns as covered elsewhere
on this page), September 24, 2001, and Washington Post, September 26, 2001
Other Employees Terminated or Suspended
UCLA Library Assistant Suspended for Critical Email
A library assistant at the University of California at Los Angeles was suspended
without pay for one week, then later returned to work with full pay and the
incident removed from his record, after sending a mass e-mail message
criticizing American support for what he called apartheid policies in Israel and
the bombing of Iraq, Daily Bruin Online, October 4, 2001, and American
Libraries, October 15, 2001, and Daily Bruin Online, October 25, 2001
University of New Mexico Professor Faces Discipline for Explosive Comment
University of New Mexico Professor Richard A. Berthold is facing disciplinary
action for when he offered his freshman history class what he now calls an
unfortunate attempt at humor saying, "Anyone who would blow up the Pentagon
would have my vote," Washington Post, October 30, 2001
Related Incidents
Green Party USA Coordinator Detained At Airport
Although there is some disagreement about the reasons for their action, armed
government agents grabbed Nancy Oden, Green Party USA coordinating committee
member, Thursday at Bangor International Airport in Bangor, Maine, and banned
her from flying that day at that airport as she attempted to board an American
Airlines flight to Chicago for a Green's conference including discussion of
opposition to the war in Afghanistan, IndyMedia, November 3, 2001, and Bangor
Daily News, November 3, 2001, and WarTimeLiberty.com, November 3, 2001
Judge: Charleston Student Can't Form Anarchy Club; Wear a Anti-War T-Shirts to
School
A judge ruled Thursday that Katie Sierra, a 15-year-old sophomore, cannot form
an anarchy club or wear T-shirts opposing the U.S. bombing of Afghanistan
because it would disrupt school and upheld her suspension from Sissonville High
School for three days for promoting the club and for wearing T-shirts with
messages such as: "When I saw the dead and dying Afghani children on TV, I felt
a newly recovered sense of national security. God Bless America," The Charlotte
Observer, November 1, 2001
Terrorist Phone Home?
Among the more than 1,100 people ensnared in the United States hunt for
terrorists in connection with the hijacked-airliner attacks on the World Trade
Center and the Pentagon for whom some information is publicly available are
people who made "congratulatory" telephone calls minutes later, although many
others apparently have tenuous or nonexistent connections to the attacks,
Washington Post, November 4, 2001, and New York Times, October 28, 2001, and
CNN, October 28, 2001, and Reuters / CNN, October 28, 2001, and American Civil
Liberties Union, October 29, 2001, and Wired.com, October 30, 2001
College of the Holy Cross Department Head Orders Flag Removal
At the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass., a department head told a
secretary to take down an "inappropriate" flag she had hung in her office in
honor of a friend who died on one of the hijacked airliners, but after the
matter made it into a local newspaper, triggering an angry public reaction, the
secretary was allowed to fly another flag on her desk, Washington Post, October
30, 2001
CNN vs. IndyMedia?
EFF has confirmed that CNN has blocked use of the word "IndyMedia" in its online
discussion groups, perhaps in response to a report that appeared on IndyMedia
charging that footage of Palestinians celebrating in the wake of the September
11 terrorist attacks were recycled from older coverage, IndyMedia, October 27,
2001
Daily Cals Replaced with Fliers Calling for Boycott
Approximately 1,000 copies of The Daily Californian were stolen from newspaper
racks on Sproul Plaza Wednesday, apparently in response to an advertisement
titled "End States Who Sponsor Terrorism," paid for by the Ayn Rand Institute,
and in place of the newspapers were fliers that called for a boycott of the
Daily Cal alleging the Oct. 23 ad is "irrational and inflammatory," and
perpetuates hostility against the Iranian community, Daily Californian, October
25, 2001
ACLU to Defend Masked Peace-March Protesters
The American Civil Liberties Union will defend seven protesters who were
arrested apparently because they were wearing masks during a peace march in
Denver on September 29, Denver Post, October 23, 2001
Novel Security Measures
A Philadelphia man was kept off a recent flight because of a book he was
carrying, SiliconValley.com, October 18, 2001
British Broadcasters Refuse to Censor Video Statements by bin Laden
British broadcasters yesterday refused to censor video statements by Osama bin
Laden owing to government fears that he may be sending secret messages to his
terrorist network by video, Freedom Forum, October 16, 2001
Military Buys Exclusive Commercial Satellite Coverage of War Zone
The U.S. military is paying for the exclusive rights to commercial satellite
imagery of Afghanistan even though its own satellites are thought to take far
better pictures, SiliconValley.com, October 15, 2001
Bush Administration Interpretation Weakens Freedom of Information Act
The U.S. Department of Justice issued a revised memorandum for how to treat
requests received under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) that establishing
a "sound legal basis" rather than the existing "forseeable harm" standard for
defending FOIA request refusals in court, John Ashcroft FOIA Memorandum, October
12, 2001, in contrast with Janet Reno's "New Standard for Openness", October 4,
1993
Clear Channel "Bans" Songs on 1200 Radio Stations
In response to the terrorist attacks, a program director from Clear Channel,
owner of 1200 radio stations across the US, identified a list of more than one
hundred "questionable" songs "that certain markets or individuals may find
insensitive" in light of the terrorist attack, including John Lennon's
"Imagine," E!Online, September 18, 2001, and Slate, September 18, 2001, and
Denial from ClearChannel, September 18, 2001, and Slate, September 19, 2001, and
Mike's Message, September 22, 2001, and Snopes.com, October 2001
2000 Election Recount Study Suppressed?
Please let EFF know if you have evidence that will confirm or deny a rumor
circulating that media organizations, including The Associated Press, The New
York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal and CNN, have
suppressed results of the recount of all Florida votes in the 2000 election,
conducted by the Chicago-based National Opinion Research Center, and originally
scheduled for release in May 2001, Online News Hour / PBS, April 3, 2001
(reporting when the study results were expected)
Related Links
A Sad State of Affairs
A floor speech from from US Representative Ron Paul on the long American
tradition of criticizing government actions and the right of free speech
guaranteed by the US constitution, October 25, 2001
Blue Ribbon Campaign
Electronic Frontier Foundation campaign to prevent online censorship
OMB Watch Access to Government Information
A Washington group that advocates for government accountability in budgetary and
regulatory matters maintains a list of government websites that have removed
information
Please send any questions or comments to webmaster@eff.org
Peace and good day to all.
The many freedoms that so many of us the world over seem to take for granted are truly of relevance, according to the times and the situations involved.
Following is an extensive list of only some of the non-human casualties which are a direct result of terrorism, and although these casualties are truly non-human, yet they do affect our daily lives truly.
================================================== ===============Chilling Effects of Anti-Terrorism
"National Security" Toll on Freedom of Expression
http://eff.org/Censorship/Terrorism_militias/antiterrorism_chill.html
The right to free speech faces the strongest challenges during times of crisis.
Whether or not any of us agree about each particular decision made to prevent
public access to sensitive information, it is the Electronic Frontier
Foundation's responsibility to chart any such efforts so that we as a society
are at least aware of what is no longer available to us.
This page attempts to convey the chilling effect that responses to the terrorist
attacks of September 11, 2001, have had on information availability on the
Internet as well as some sense of the effect on people trying to provide this
information.
Currently, this page tracks the following:
Websites Shut Down by US Government
Websites Shut Down by Other Governments
Websites Shut Down by Internet Service Provider
Websites Shut Down or Partially Removed by Website Owner
US Government Websites That Shut Down or Removed Information
US Government Requests to Remove Information
Media Professionals Terminated or Suspended
Other Employees Terminated or Suspended
Related Incidents
Related Links
If you know of a anti-terrorism chilling effect that should be listed here,
please email freespeech@eff.org
Feel free to mirror this page on other websites, just please link back to the
original on this page.
Websites Shut Down by US Government
None reported.
Websites Shut Down by Other Governments
qoqaz.net
Reportedly shut down by British government because prosecutors allege that the
site was affiliated with London-based Azzam Publications and urged support of
terrorism to defend Muslims in the Caucasus, "donating money for the Taliban,"
and "military training for the battle," Wall Street Journal / MSNBC, October 8,
2001
Sakina Securities
The Sakina Securities website at was shut down on Oct. 5, the same day the
British government arrested Sulayman Balal Zainulabidin for allegedly "providing
training or instruction in the making of firearms, explosives or chemical,
biological or nuclear weapons and inviting others to do the same," Wired News /
Reuters, October 4, 2001, and Newsbytes.com, October 12, 2001
Websites Shut Down by Internet Service Provider
allewislive.com
This site from Al Lewis, who played Grandpa on the Munsters television show, was
shut down apparently by web hosting provider Hypervine for an unknown reason,
although other information from Al Lewis is available at
http://www.grandpa2000.org/, Politech, October 2, 2001, and USA Today, October
16, 2001, and Internet.com, October 18, 2001, and Wired, October 26, 2001
azzam.com
This site reportedly provides "authentic news and information about Jihad and
the foreign Mujahideen everywhere, by providing stories of martyrs killed in
Afghanistan, Bosnia and Chechnya" and says it doesn’t encourage readers to
commit illegal acts, although it notes that, according to Islamic tenets,
"martyrdom operations are permissible", and was apparently shut down by multiple
ISPs, at least one apparently in response to an FBI request, while the site was
also apparently at one point mirrored at the now no longer available
qoqaz.co.za, Wall Street Journal / MSNBC, October 8, 2001
iraradio.com
This pro-IRA site which archives all Radio Free Eireann broadcasts, has been
taken down because the web service provider Hypervine felt that the Bush
administration's announcement of the new Office of Homeland Security's
activities threatened the ISP with seizure of their assets if they continued to
host "terrorist" radio programs, so the site owners plan to reopen probably on a
Canadian server after they move into their new office later this year, Politech,
October 2, 2001, and Guardian Unlimited, October 11, 2001, and USA Today,
October 16, 2001, and Internet.com, October 18, 2001, and Wired, October 26,
2001
Jihad-Related Sites on Yahoo
Yahoo apparently removed 55 "jihad-related" sites, Wall Street Journal / MSNBC,
October 8, 2001
Websites Shut Down or Partially Removed by Website Owner
Amazon Removes a Startling Book Jacket
Amazon.com has removed a photograph of a Arabic book jacket that shows a plane
flying through the top of a building under construction in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia,
that has a top shaped like the eye of a needle, with the only link to the World
Trade Center being that the Riyadh building is being financed by Prince Alwaleed
bin Talal bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud, whose $10 million donation to the Twin Towers
Fund was recently refused by Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani of New York, because
along with expressing condolences, the prince urged the United States to
re-examine its policy toward Israel, New York Times, October 29, 2001
Barbra Streisand Removed Anti-Bush Articles
Barbra Streisand apparently removed anti-Bush articles from her website, saying,
"In light of recent events, I strongly believe we must support our government
despite our disagreements on certain policies, such as those relating to
environmental, educational, social and other specific issues. My past concerns
about such matters still pertain, but at this point in time, I have removed
several articles from my website in an effort to encourage national unity
instead of partisan divisions. Thank you," then ironically complains about the
Los Angeles Times refusing to run two columns by Ariana Huffington (covered
elsewhere on this page), The List from John Aravosis, October 31, 2001
Bert Is Evil!
Although it is not clear if this happened due to strange reports of Islamic
fundamentalists holding posters containing an image of Sesame Street's Bert
character right next to Osama Bin Laden, the owner of this site, Dino Ignacio,
explained that he removed the site because "I feel this has gotten too close to
reality and I choose to be responsible enough to stop it right here," Bert Is
Evil, October 18, 2001
Federation of American Scientists
Steven Aftergood, who administers the Project on Government Secrecy for the
Federation of American Scientists, has pulled from more than 200 pages of
previously posted information out of concern that terrorists might find them
useful, including floor plans of National Security Agency and Central
Intelligence Agency facilities and images of foreign nuclear weapons plants,
Newsfactor Network, October 5, 2001, and SiliconValley.com / Reuters, October
11, 2001, and WashingtonPost.com / Newsbytes, October 11, 2001, and
SiliconValley.com, October 11, 2001, and ABCNews.com / Good Morning America,
October 15, 2001, and Contra Costa Times, October 18, 2001
The Flagburning Page
This owner of this site explained that because "Congress is trying to change the
constitution in order to put peaceful protesters in prison" and although "I have
never burned a flag, nor do I ever want to" he has "had so many death threats
and assaulting emails, that I choose no longer to care about this cause. I have
fought an uphill battle to protect your freedom of speech. And now I give up,"
although the site is back on the web as of October 31, 2001, The FlagBurning
Page, September 19, 2001, and Internet.com, October 18, 2001, and Wired, October
26, 2001
Google Un-Cached
Google has approached government agencies and private organizations, offering to
remove from their "cache" the web pages that were removed from other sites,
ABCNews.com / Good Morning America, October 15, 2001, and Contra Costa Times,
October 18, 2001
MSNBC Removes Item on Congressional Coverage Restrictions
MSNBC removed from an article formerly entitled "Ashcroft Seeks Sweeping Powers"
and now called "House Approves $343 Billion Defense Bill" a section about how
the House Judiciary Committee's Republican staffers ordered television camera
crews to leave a hearing on terrorist attacks after Ashcroft spoke but before
civil liberties and free-speech advocates could testify, Media Alliance Project,
September 24, 2001, and Yahoo Stop Police Abuse Group, September 27, 2001
Planned Parenthood Temporarily Removes RoevBush.com
Planned Parenthood has temporarily removed its RoevBush.com website apparently
in a show of unity with the Bush administration in the aftermath of the
terrorist attacks, The List from John Aravosis, October 31, 2001
WhatDemocracy.com Removes Controversial Content
The WhatDemocracy.com website has temporarily removed its content critical of
"right-wing politics, including President Bush and the Republican Party" in the
aftermath of the terrorist attacks "due to the potential of endangerment to our
staff" and noting that "we would love to address the current terrorism
situation, and we should have the RIGHT to SAFELY address our opinions, but who
will step up to the plate and protect us, and how?," November 2, 2001
US Government Websites That Shut Down or Removed Information
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
OMB Watch, a Washington group that advocates for government accountability in
budgetary and regulatory matters, says the Agency for Toxic Substances and
Disease Registry dropped a report critical of chemical plant security,
Newsfactor Network, October 4, 2001, and Newsfactor Network, October 5, 2001
Army Corps of Engineers
The Army Corps of Engineers site that contained information about an underground
military command center near Washington was moved behind a firewall so a
username and password are now required for access, ABCNews.com / Good Morning
America, October 15, 2001
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
OMB Watch, a Washington group that advocates for government accountability in
budgetary and regulatory matters, says the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention has pulled a report about lack of preparedness against a terrorist
attack using poison gas or other chemical agents, Newsfactor Network, October 5,
2001, and USA Today, October 12, 2001 (updated October 18, 2001), and Federal
Computer Week, October 16, 2001
Department of Energy, National Transportation of Radioactive Materials
The Department of Energy, National Transportation of Radioactive Materials site
has been replaced with the note "This site temporarily unavailable, Please
contact Bobby Sanchez at 505-845-5541 if you have any questions," OMB Watch
Post-September 11 Environment, October 26, 2001
Department of Transportation
OMB Watch, a Washington group that advocates for government accountability in
budgetary and regulatory matters, says the Department of Transportation has
limited access to the National Pipeline Mapping System of the Office of Pipeline
Safety, which lays out the network of high pressure natural gas pipelines
throughout the nation and the site of the Geographic Information Services
section of the DOT's Bureau of Transportation Services (BTS) reports that
"Recent events have focused additional security concerns on transportation
infrastructure" and "Due to these concerns, BTS will not provide unlimited
access to the geospatial data through the Internet," Newsfactor Network, October
4, 2001, and Newsfactor Network, October 5, 2001, and SiliconValley.com /
Reuters, October 11, 2001, and USA Today, October 12, 2001 (updated October 18,
2001), and ABCNews.com / Good Morning America, October 15, 2001, and Federal
Computer Week, October 16, 2001
Environmental Protection Agency
OMB Watch, a Washington group that advocates for government accountability in
budgetary and regulatory matters, says the EPA has pulled from its site Risk
Management Plans, which contain detailed information about the dangers of
chemical accidents -- such as toxic plume maps and emergency response plans
after a refinery explosion, Newsfactor Network, October 4, 2001, and Newsfactor
Network, October 5, 2001, and SiliconValley.com / Reuters, October 11, 2001, and
USA Today, October 12, 2001 (updated October 18, 2001), and ABCNews.com / Good
Morning America, October 15, 2001, and Federal Computer Week, October 16, 2001,
and Washington Post / Newsbytes.com, October 26, 2001
Federal Aviation Administration
OMB Watch, a Washington group that advocates for government accountability in
budgetary and regulatory matters, says the Federal Aviation Administration has
pulled data from a site listing enforcement violations such as weaknesses in
airport security, Newsfactor Network, October 5, 2001, and ABCNews.com, October
12, 2001
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, has removed documents that detail
specifications for energy facilities from its website, Contra Costa Times,
October 18, 2001
Geographic Information Services
OMB Watch, a Washington group that advocates for government accountability in
budgetary and regulatory matters, says the Geographic Information Services,
which provides highly detailed maps of roads and utilities, is limiting access
to federal, state, and local government officials, Newsfactor Network, October
5, 2001
International Nuclear Safety Center
Selecting the Reactor Maps link from the front page of this site generates the
following message: "If you requested access to the maps of nuclear power reactor
locations, these maps have been taken off-line temporarily pending the outcome
of a policy review by the US Department of Energy and Argonne National
Laboratory," while their Power Reactors database still lists city and state for
nuclear plants around the world, International Nuclear Safety Center, October
18, 2001
Los Alamos National Laboratory
The Los Alamos National Laboratory has removed a number of reports from its
Laboratory Publications page, OMB Watch Post-September 11 Environment, October
26, 2001
NASA Glenn Research Center
The NASA Glenn Research Center website notes that "Public access to many of our
web sites is temporarily limited. We apologize for any inconvenience," OMB Watch
Post-September 11 Environment, October 26, 2001
National Atlas of the United States
The Nuclear Site Locations in the United States page of this site is missing
though listed as a result with a broken link and no cache on a Google search for
"nuclear site location map", National Atlas of the United States, October 18,
2001
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
The New Jersey officials removed from the Internet "for security reasons
temporarily" some Web pages that officials fear could be useful to terrorists in
planning attacks, in particular the Department of Environmental Protection
recently removed a database listing the hazardous chemicals and substances used
or stored at 33,000 businesses throughout the state, as well as maps of
reservoirs, Associated Press / SiliconValley.com, October 26, 2001, and
Washington Post / Newsbytes.com, October 26, 2001
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is displaying only "only select content" while
"performing a review of all material" on their website, although most of the
information has been there for years and "nothing top secret was on the Web site
to begin with," according to William Beecher of the NRC, ABCNews.com, October
12, 2001, and USA Today, October 12, 2001 (updated October 18, 2001), and
ABCNews.com / Good Morning America, October 15, 2001, and Federal Computer Week,
October 16, 2001, and Contra Costa Times, October 18, 2001
U.S. Geological Survey
The U.S. Geological Survey has removed a number of pages from its Registered
Online Water-Resources Reports database (search for "removed"), OMB Watch
Post-September 11 Environment, October 26, 2001
US Government Requests to Remove Information
Al-Jazeera
Bush administration national security adviser Condoleezza Rice called network
executives to request that they "exercise judgment" in broadcasting messages
from Osama bin Laden received through the Al-Jazeera satellite network while
Secretary of State Colin Powell claimed the broadcasts may contain "some kind of
message", and in response CNN, Fox, and other networks agreed to review
statements before airing them, Associated Press, October 10, 2001
Globalsecurity.org
According to John Pike of Globalsecurity.org, low-level military officials
requested he remove data he had gathered from military websites, ABCNews.com /
Good Morning America, October 15, 2001, and Wired, October 26, 2001
Voice of America
Journalists from the Voice of America who obtained an interview with Taliban
leader Mullah Mohammed Omar managed to publish a modified version of the
interview only after struggles within the Bush administration, Washington Post,
September 26, 2001
Media Professionals Terminated or Suspended
Oneida Daily Dispatch Fires Editors
The Oneida Daily Dispatch apparently fired Managing Editor Jean Ryan and City
Editor Dale Seth for publishing an editorial including these remarks, "Until
1948, there was no Israel. The United Nations took Palestinian land and gave it
to a number of Jewish terrorists to rule -- Jewish terrorists who had bombed and
killed Palestinians and others in an effort to force hands of power to see an
Israel formed. Today's freedom fighter, in many cases, was yesterday's
terrorist," Associated Press, October 19, 2001, and Nile Media, October 24, 2001
National Review Cans Columnist Ann Coulter
The National Review told conservative columnist Ann Coulter her writing is no
longer welcome after one of her columns declared, "We should invade their
countries, kill their leaders and convert them to Christianity," while the
Washington Times refused to run the terrorism column in the first place,
Washington Post, October 2, 2001
Daily Courier Fires Columnist
The Daily Courier publisher Dennis Mack fired columnist Dan Guthrie for writing
about President Bush "hiding in a Nebraska hole" following terrorist attacks,
TBO.com / Associated Press, September 26, 2001
Los Angeles Times Stifles Arianna Huffington
The Los Angeles Times apparently refused to print a column from Arianna
Huffington defending Bill Maher and a column bemoaning 'unity' that results in
approval of a faulty missile defense shield, capital gains tax cuts, and
drilling in in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, both of which Barbara
Streisand has published on her website, September 24, 2001
Politically Incorrect
When ABC satirist Bill Maher said on his show, "Politically Incorrect," that "we
have been the cowards lobbing cruise missiles from 2,000 miles away -- that's
cowardly," three ABC affiliates, including Washington's WJLA-TV, answered viewer
complaints by yanking subsequent episodes from the air, Arianna Online (the LA
Times apparently refused to print some of Ariana's columns as covered elsewhere
on this page), September 24, 2001, and Washington Post, September 26, 2001
Other Employees Terminated or Suspended
UCLA Library Assistant Suspended for Critical Email
A library assistant at the University of California at Los Angeles was suspended
without pay for one week, then later returned to work with full pay and the
incident removed from his record, after sending a mass e-mail message
criticizing American support for what he called apartheid policies in Israel and
the bombing of Iraq, Daily Bruin Online, October 4, 2001, and American
Libraries, October 15, 2001, and Daily Bruin Online, October 25, 2001
University of New Mexico Professor Faces Discipline for Explosive Comment
University of New Mexico Professor Richard A. Berthold is facing disciplinary
action for when he offered his freshman history class what he now calls an
unfortunate attempt at humor saying, "Anyone who would blow up the Pentagon
would have my vote," Washington Post, October 30, 2001
Related Incidents
Green Party USA Coordinator Detained At Airport
Although there is some disagreement about the reasons for their action, armed
government agents grabbed Nancy Oden, Green Party USA coordinating committee
member, Thursday at Bangor International Airport in Bangor, Maine, and banned
her from flying that day at that airport as she attempted to board an American
Airlines flight to Chicago for a Green's conference including discussion of
opposition to the war in Afghanistan, IndyMedia, November 3, 2001, and Bangor
Daily News, November 3, 2001, and WarTimeLiberty.com, November 3, 2001
Judge: Charleston Student Can't Form Anarchy Club; Wear a Anti-War T-Shirts to
School
A judge ruled Thursday that Katie Sierra, a 15-year-old sophomore, cannot form
an anarchy club or wear T-shirts opposing the U.S. bombing of Afghanistan
because it would disrupt school and upheld her suspension from Sissonville High
School for three days for promoting the club and for wearing T-shirts with
messages such as: "When I saw the dead and dying Afghani children on TV, I felt
a newly recovered sense of national security. God Bless America," The Charlotte
Observer, November 1, 2001
Terrorist Phone Home?
Among the more than 1,100 people ensnared in the United States hunt for
terrorists in connection with the hijacked-airliner attacks on the World Trade
Center and the Pentagon for whom some information is publicly available are
people who made "congratulatory" telephone calls minutes later, although many
others apparently have tenuous or nonexistent connections to the attacks,
Washington Post, November 4, 2001, and New York Times, October 28, 2001, and
CNN, October 28, 2001, and Reuters / CNN, October 28, 2001, and American Civil
Liberties Union, October 29, 2001, and Wired.com, October 30, 2001
College of the Holy Cross Department Head Orders Flag Removal
At the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass., a department head told a
secretary to take down an "inappropriate" flag she had hung in her office in
honor of a friend who died on one of the hijacked airliners, but after the
matter made it into a local newspaper, triggering an angry public reaction, the
secretary was allowed to fly another flag on her desk, Washington Post, October
30, 2001
CNN vs. IndyMedia?
EFF has confirmed that CNN has blocked use of the word "IndyMedia" in its online
discussion groups, perhaps in response to a report that appeared on IndyMedia
charging that footage of Palestinians celebrating in the wake of the September
11 terrorist attacks were recycled from older coverage, IndyMedia, October 27,
2001
Daily Cals Replaced with Fliers Calling for Boycott
Approximately 1,000 copies of The Daily Californian were stolen from newspaper
racks on Sproul Plaza Wednesday, apparently in response to an advertisement
titled "End States Who Sponsor Terrorism," paid for by the Ayn Rand Institute,
and in place of the newspapers were fliers that called for a boycott of the
Daily Cal alleging the Oct. 23 ad is "irrational and inflammatory," and
perpetuates hostility against the Iranian community, Daily Californian, October
25, 2001
ACLU to Defend Masked Peace-March Protesters
The American Civil Liberties Union will defend seven protesters who were
arrested apparently because they were wearing masks during a peace march in
Denver on September 29, Denver Post, October 23, 2001
Novel Security Measures
A Philadelphia man was kept off a recent flight because of a book he was
carrying, SiliconValley.com, October 18, 2001
British Broadcasters Refuse to Censor Video Statements by bin Laden
British broadcasters yesterday refused to censor video statements by Osama bin
Laden owing to government fears that he may be sending secret messages to his
terrorist network by video, Freedom Forum, October 16, 2001
Military Buys Exclusive Commercial Satellite Coverage of War Zone
The U.S. military is paying for the exclusive rights to commercial satellite
imagery of Afghanistan even though its own satellites are thought to take far
better pictures, SiliconValley.com, October 15, 2001
Bush Administration Interpretation Weakens Freedom of Information Act
The U.S. Department of Justice issued a revised memorandum for how to treat
requests received under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) that establishing
a "sound legal basis" rather than the existing "forseeable harm" standard for
defending FOIA request refusals in court, John Ashcroft FOIA Memorandum, October
12, 2001, in contrast with Janet Reno's "New Standard for Openness", October 4,
1993
Clear Channel "Bans" Songs on 1200 Radio Stations
In response to the terrorist attacks, a program director from Clear Channel,
owner of 1200 radio stations across the US, identified a list of more than one
hundred "questionable" songs "that certain markets or individuals may find
insensitive" in light of the terrorist attack, including John Lennon's
"Imagine," E!Online, September 18, 2001, and Slate, September 18, 2001, and
Denial from ClearChannel, September 18, 2001, and Slate, September 19, 2001, and
Mike's Message, September 22, 2001, and Snopes.com, October 2001
2000 Election Recount Study Suppressed?
Please let EFF know if you have evidence that will confirm or deny a rumor
circulating that media organizations, including The Associated Press, The New
York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal and CNN, have
suppressed results of the recount of all Florida votes in the 2000 election,
conducted by the Chicago-based National Opinion Research Center, and originally
scheduled for release in May 2001, Online News Hour / PBS, April 3, 2001
(reporting when the study results were expected)
Related Links
A Sad State of Affairs
A floor speech from from US Representative Ron Paul on the long American
tradition of criticizing government actions and the right of free speech
guaranteed by the US constitution, October 25, 2001
Blue Ribbon Campaign
Electronic Frontier Foundation campaign to prevent online censorship
OMB Watch Access to Government Information
A Washington group that advocates for government accountability in budgetary and
regulatory matters maintains a list of government websites that have removed
information
Please send any questions or comments to webmaster@eff.org