August 16, 2012 | Online

Gay Ugandans don't need hackers' help

Anonymous, a coaliton of computer hackers who fight Internet censorship (including government and industry  attempts to battle online piracy), is now taking a controversial stand on Uganda's homophobic ways by attacking that country's official websites.

"We currently have full control of the President of Uganda's website," wrote a hacker on PasteBin. This included taking over the Prime Minister's page and replacing it with an official recognition of Gay Pride Week and a formal apology to gay people. A photo from a gay pride event in the country was included in one of the posts.

"We will not stand by while LGBT Ugandans are victimized, abused and murdered by a ruthless and corrupt government," wrote the Anonymous hacker on PasteBin, threatening to continue attacks "until the government of Uganda treats all people including LGBT equally and with respect, dignity and immediately ends the arrest and harassment of LGBT."

Some fear the group's well-intentioned actions would lead to repercussions.

"While I support all protests against the anti-gay Ugandan Government, I  fear this may cause a backlash to the LGBT community of activists who so bravely showed their faces at Pride," Melanie Nathan, a blogger, wrote. 

She even spoke with Val Kalende, one of the activists who appeared at the pride event in the photograph the hacker posted on the Ugandan president's website.

"My concern is the manner in which Anonymous claim to speak on behalf of Uganda LGBT activists with no consultation whatsoever," Kalende told Nathan. "Those well-meaning interventions can cause severe backlash for activists on the ground. Hacking government websites to 'help' victims of state-sponsored homophobia? Who does that? I think this extremist violent intervention MUST STOP."

We wouldn't be surprised if gay Ugandans were jailed or killed as a paranoid government and homophobic mobs react to Anonymous's misguided deeds. 

Hackers Attack Ugandan Government Websites to Protest Homophobia [The Advocate]