WikiLeaks: Assange's internet link 'severed' by state actor

[MowCowWhoHow III]

Source: AP

PARIS (AP) — WikiLeaks says that founder Julian Assange's internet access has been cut by an unidentified state actor. Few other details were immediately available.

Assange has been up holed up at the Ecuadorean Embassy in London for more than four years after skipping bail to avoid being extradited over sex crimes allegations.

The cramped quarters haven't prevented the Australian transparency activist from working and WikiLeaks continues to deliver scoops, including revelations that have rattled Hillary Clinton's campaign for president as the U.S. election enters its final stretch.

Calls, texts and emails left with WikiLeaks weren't immediately returned Monday. A woman who picked up the phone at the embassy said: "I cannot disclose any information." An email to Ecuador's ambassador wasn't immediately answered. London's Metropolitan Police declined comment.


Read more: http://www.sfchronicle.com/business/technology/article/WikiLeaks-Assange-s-internet-link-severed-by-9975483.php

[restorefreedom]

1. so the ecuadorian embassy has been cyber attacked

with modern internet (especially in London), it's not like JUST Assange's internet was cut off, must be the whole embassy. so the country of ecuador is under cyber attack, it seems, by the actor responsible. based on what biden/obama have been saying about cyberattacks, this would seem to be quite an aggressive act against Ecuador, and possibly by default, the UK.

[Hortensis]

2. A little assumptive, perhaps? Only fringe media are

reporting on this so far, others with investigative abilities no doubt...investigating before reporting, but I see nothing about cyber attack on Ecuador via its embassy. I'd guess Assange would know if his access had been cut, but at this point he has no credibility with me and I take nothing from him at face value. He is asking for money, btw, to help fight this whatever.

[MowCowWhoHow III]

3. Associated Press are fringe media?

High standards!

[Hortensis]

6. That would be, yes, but AP was not on the news reports

I googled a short while ago, or buried a couple screens down. Just saw their release, which merely reports Assange's claim. The only new information is that the embassy would not discuss and did not answer an email that was sent to it -- not reported as undeliverable. Nothing about cyber attack on Ecuador.

(Btw, AP no longer has my trust either. It's ability to blanket our entire nation with disinformation combined with willingness to pursue undisclosed agendas is very dangerous.)

[restorefreedom]

7. wikileaks tweeted the internet cut off

so it seems they have verified it themselves. i suppose there is a small possibility that some cable/technical issue is the reason for the loss of service, but wikileaks in their tweet believes it to be an intentional act.

if it was accidental/technical, i would expect wikileaks/assange to have internet power restored pretty quicky. if intentional, not so much.

but if it is intentional, i don't know how to interpret it other than a cyber attack. and in order to be effective, it would have to be against the entire embassy, i.e., Ecuador.

[Hortensis]

11. I don't believe anything from Assange, except

possibly his claim that he needs money. More information coming, no doubt, from more reliable sources.

[Recursion]

5. You realize Ecuador is also a "state actor", right?

And they are tired of this situation

[restorefreedom]

8. so they cut off their own internet?

seems extreme, but of course, technically possible. not sure what there is to gain from it. if assange is in danger, he is not going to go running out of the embassy just because he has no internet. not sure what their rationale would be.

[Hortensis]

12. An AP email sent to the embassy was apparently received.

[restorefreedom]

13. hmmmmm. the plot thickens.

so if they cut it off just to his room (i guess they are in the stone age and have no wifi), then they are clearly being pressure by outside entities to silence assange.

i don't see this ending well. censorship is never popular, no matter who it is or what they have to say.

kind of irrelevant, though. assange has said many times it doesn't all depend on him. whatever he has will get out anyway.

[Hortensis]

14. Yes, it is interesting. And, as you say,

if other actors want to get stuff out, they can do it some other way. He's damaged the Wikileaks brand so badly that it's probably lost a lot of its utility anyway.

[Recursion]

31. I don't think any embassy anywhere allows wifi

That would give security officers heart attacks.

[TexasProgresive]

48. Not a problem cutting off one computer from WIFI access

Do it by MAC address. But if I were in charge of security at the embassy I would not use WIFI. It would all be hard wired. Broadcasting your data and having an open door to intruders is stupid.

[Loki Liesmith]

16. No maybe the just shut off his

i.e. They took his phone.

[Hamlette]

26. couldn't they just change the password for the WiFi and not give it to Julian?

what do I know? Seems like it would work.

[Recursion]

33. I've been to a lot of embassies and none of them have wifi

Keep in mind the Diplomatoc Corps still send each other messages in all capital letters because that made telegraphy easier. Though banning wifi makes a lot of sense.

[Lulu KC]

39. Exactly what I thought!

It's what we do to our kids when they get "grounded."

[Recursion]

30. The Embassy still has Internet. Assange doesn't

Occam.

[ColemanMaskell]

73. Guess you've seen this by now, but you're right. Raw Story says Ecuador cut him off.

http://www.rawstory.com/2016/10/wikileaks-now-claims-ecuador-cut-off-julian-assanges-internet-access/

... WikiLeaks said on Monday that its founder Julian Assange’s internet was shut down by the government of Ecuador, deflecting blame from the U.S. or British governments who have sparred with Assange for releasing sensitive material.

“We can confirm Ecuador cut off Assange’s internet access Saturday, 5pm GMT, shortly after publication of (Hillary) Clinton’s Goldman Sachs speechs (sic),” the statement from WikiLeaks said.

[cstanleytech]

37. Its possible.

The most likely causes though are either someone had an accident somewhere and took a line out, some idiot cut a line digging or in my case a tech working outside screwed up when they were working on something for someone else in the area outside which has unfortunately happened to me 3 times this year alone.

[karynnj]

27. I have heard no one - even on twitter declare that

It sounds like the UK and US pushed Ecuador to cut off Assange's internet connection. His fans on twitter are blasting Kerry and others for leaning on "a sovereign country". Yet, it is Assange who is threatening the UK foreign office, Ecuador and Kerry personally with drops of emails. Anyone else think that Assange threatening Ecuador is not very bright?

This shows THEIR sense of entitlement. Wikileaks, with the help of Russia, illegally hacked the DNC and John Podesta's email and then made it public. Had a left leaning group hacked Trump's campaign and put things out they would be screaming to put them in prison!

Here, taking away his internet access seems reasonable after what he has done. In fact, this is a very proportionate thing to do - far from a cyber attack on Russia or something else extreme. I hope his "time out" lasts through the election. He has certainly shown his true colors.

By the way, there is something really telling about who the Trump people are when they have Roger Stone complaining about John Kerry. Not to mention, arguing that he is London "to get Assange" - instead of what have to be tough meeting on what to do on Syria and Yemen. Obviously, neither Kerry or Boris Johnson had to even be in the country when this was done.

[Adrahil]

46. I would not assume that Assange is using Ecuador's net connection.

If he were, they would be directly implicated in in espionage against the United States. I doubt they would go that far.

[hollowdweller]

56. Obama is getting his revenge

Expect embarrassing or incriminating Russian emails to come out next.

[truthisfreedom]

4. Who might the state actor be? That's easy! Who doesn't want trump?

I guess Russia didn't cut their internet. Nor North Korea.

[Coyotl]

43. What country is he in? There's your answer.

Unless Ecuador decided he doesn't get internet access.

[Adrahil]

9. I'm surprised there has not been more action against Ecuador.

It's one thing to grant asylum to a person. It's another to do so for a person who continues to interfere in the U.S. Electoral process.

[randome]

17. Yes!

I wonder if there aren't U.K./American talks with Ecuador to keep this Australian clown from continuing to interfere in election processes.

Of course some Assange worshipers would claim that this is proof that Obama is out to 'get' Assange.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]"There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in."
Leonard Cohen, Anthem (1992)[/center][/font][hr]

[karynnj]

28. I'm just surprised that he is threatening Ecuador as well as the UK and US

It is pretty ironic that Roger Stone, whose name is synonymous with dirty tricks, is leading the outrage. If what we are seeing is correct it is a really good proportionate response - silencing Assange. The fact is that the Trump folks would scream if their communications were leaked.

[stonecutter357]

10. Good fuck Julian Assange i hope Guantanamo Bay is next for him.

[Cha]

23. ..

[stonecutter357]

32. Good morning Cha.

[Cha]

35. Good mornin', stonecutter

[msanthrope]

15. Tell him to check the cable. Jeebus, this is news? nt

[treestar]

58. lol he should turn it off and reboot

[Hatemonger]

18. Fk Assange!

I hope that low life scum is swimming with the fishes!

[DemonGoddess]

19. considering he's asking for money again

it's a sympathy ploy, and I betcha falsified.

[bmstee01]

20. Has he tried

Unplugging the cords, waiting for 3 minutes, then plugging it back in?

[Lulu KC]

40. Thank you!

[underpants]

50. Hello....

[treestar]

60. ....

[Codeine]

21. How many lights are showing on the front of his router? nt

[Trust Buster]

22. Ecuador has been complicit in the illegal hacking and destruction of our citizen's privacy rights.

You will see no tears being shed from me.

[bucolic_frolic]

24. Never a fan of Wikileaks

or other leakers such as Snowden. Laundry is not policy. Process
is not outcome. Deliberation is not law.

Total transparency in government is like forcing businesses to
divulge all wholesale costs for the goods they sell and allowing
consumers to pay as little as possible

All institutions have some degree of privacy as a means of
remaining as an ongoing entity. The instantaneous availability
of total information is a recipe for chaos.

[BlueEye]

25. Probably the CIA/NSA. Good for them.

NBC was reporting last week that a retaliatory hack on Putin is also planned by the aforementioned agencies.

You mess with our elections, try to get an authoritarian pro-Russia blowhard elected as POTUS, we will hit back. That's the message they're sending.

[groundloop]

71. This would certainly be appropriate retalliation

When I'd first heard rumors that the CIA was planning a cyber counter-attack against Russia I'd felt like we were in danger of starting a shit-storm we might not be able to end. However, I wholeheartedly applaud this action if it's of our doing. PERFECT response to all that's been going down between tRump and his best friends Putin and Assange.

[apnu]

29. If the source is unidentified, how can Assange know it was a "state actor"

Presume much Julian?

[Tarc]

34. What we have here is what the techs call a PICNIC

Problem In Chair, Not In Computer.

[underpants]

54. Ooh that's much better than PEBCAK

Problem Exists Between Chair And Keyboard

Thanks

"ID10T Error" is another of my faves.

[treestar]

61. that's great!

I've had several of those from the chair end!!!

[Sunlei]

36. why do they kill the messenger when it's the thief of files 'they' should go after?

It is wrong to 'fence' stolen files of course. But the fence needs to remain in business to catch the thief.

[WheelWalker]

80. Might we next see hacked emails from the Assange server between him and Putin's minions

discussing their DNC email heist? That would be a little embarrassing, I would think.

[Coolest Ranger]

38. Serve him right

for posting bull shit stories in the first place. Will be glad when his behind winds up in handcuffs along with his home boy Snowden

[Dreamer Tatum]

41. I wonder what this thread would have looked like a few years ago... nt

[underpants]

52. Good point n/t

[msanthrope]

62. Indeed. Nice to see an absence of rape apologia. nt

[Dreamer Tatum]

68. That's part of why I don't trust groupthink

Our groupthink is as bad as theirs.

[azmom]

72. It's all so sad.

We need more Snowdens and Assages in this world.

[Helen Borg]

42. All they need is a satellite link...

Unless the UK is going to deploy a scrambler nearby.

[underahedgerow]

44. Or he just needs a new router, and is fishing for an excuse to not release all those emails he

doesn't have.

[nolabels]

49. Shouldn't he just have the Evil-Empire that he is working for just beam him one over?

I am sure they have one waiting in the transporter room

[underahedgerow]

65. Yeah, I'm in the EU and the UK most of the time. When my 'router' goes out, I just use my

wifi sharing function on my phone. Takes 10 seconds to connect all my devices.

I'm sensing some trumpesquian blame shifting going on there.

[nolabels]

66. Sometimes it almost sounds like they are spinning yarns from 'Get Smart'

Ask yourself, if you were legit (however that could be) would announce you were without an internet connection or would you just be silent about it and find a way around it?

[Cryptoad]

45. Wonder if Ecuadorean Embassy in London would let me come stay awhile?

btw: Assange is Fecal Slime!

[Loki Liesmith]

47. LOL

[underpants]

51. Damn. No more LOLcats

[Agnosticsherbet]

53. Assange ..."after skipping bail to avoid being extradited over sex crimes allegations"

I've detested that whiny-assed narcissist from the beginning.

[Adrahil]

57. Rumors and more rumors...

So now one of my favorite right-wing sites to troll claims that Assange MAY be on private jet about to land in the U.S. They are not sure if he was "rescued" by Trump or snatched somehow by UK and US intelligence. I personally think it's unlikely, b ut if he IS on that jet, he is not being "rescued." If he is on that plane, he is about to be guest of Uncle Sam. And to repeat, I have no reason to believe that this rumor is actually true.

[mopinko]

59. was this what joe was talking about?

maybe a little part of it, that we were going to act against the hackers.

[Blue_Tires]

63. Publicity whoring, plain and simple

I don't believe a single word of this bullshit imaginary story...

But Assange is in the headlines again, so mission accomplished

[Cerridwen]

67. Can anyone else access their webpages?

Can anyone else access their webpages?

I can get to this page: ecuador.embassyhomepage.com

Any of the links I try to follow from that page give me an "unavailable" error, specifically "The web page which you had requested is not available at present. Please use the search tool below to find the answer you want."

I've tried to access consular, passport, and visa pages from the page in the above link.

[ColemanMaskell]

74. Yup. That's what happened. Ecuador shut him down.

Raw Story has it now.

http://www.rawstory.com/2016/10/wikileaks-now-claims-ecuador-cut-off-julian-assanges-internet-access/

“We can confirm Ecuador cut off Assange’s internet access Saturday, 5pm GMT, shortly after publication of (Hillary) Clinton’s Goldman Sachs speechs (sic),” the statement from WikiLeaks said.

[Hatemonger]

70. The GOP loves their sexual predators

Drumpf and Assange...eww!!!!

[joshcryer]

75. Probably due to new allegations Assange regarding cybering an 8 year old.

https://cryptome.org/2016/10/UN-Assange-ToddandClare.com.htm

They have evidence he chatted with the 8 year old and tried to groom her.

[Thinkingabout]

76. Another sexual predator, oh, well, good his access has been denied.

[joshcryer]

77. Yep, Ecuador fights against trafficking in their own country.

Last thing they need is Assange doing this crap and it blowing up.

[Foggyhill]

78. He'll again say it was a conspiracy to entrap him

Hé makes me sick

[joshcryer]

79. If they got the pics he's done.

He'll be fighting extradition to the Bahamas next.

[Kennah]

81. It's not us. I checked.

There is no Washington State Department of Thespians.