The online hacktivist Anonymous attacked the Mexican government website against the murder of Rubén Espinosa, a local photojournalist.
Anonymous Mexico is all out to direct their cyber-activism towards demanding justice from local and international authorities in the wake of the murder of Rubén Espinosa, Mexican photojournalist.
The Hack:
Just a few hours before the attack took place, at around 7:08 am CDT, a tweet was posted by the hacktivists asking their followers about their opinions on the Mexican government’s programs.
https://twitter.com/MexicanH/status/630076681752027136
This was done to understand the ongoing public sentiments regarding the right to subscription-free web access at public buildings, malls and other areas around Mexico.
At around 2 Pm CDT on Saturday, August 8, the roughly linked hackers group attacked and took down the Mexican Ministry of Communications and Transportation website known as Mexico Connected (Mexican Connectado). The group showed its signature and claimed the hack’s responsibility at the Twitter handle @MexicanH.
https://twitter.com/MexicanH/status/630088400058454016
The hacktivist group later tweeted again and mocked the Mexican government officials’ capacity to protect their own websites let alone public’s access to the internet. The group also declared public websites as “particularly vulnerable to all types of attacks.”
The group altered the display of the government’s website and uploaded a gray background showing the message “Justice for Rubén.”
https://twitter.com/MexicanH/status/628278693987627008
The site has been restored now.
What the Law Says about Right to Subscription-Free Internet Access?
After telecommunication reform in 2013, the Mexican Constitution endorsed the fact that Internet access was a human right. The article 6 of Mexican Constitution states that “the state shall guarantee the right of access to information and communication technologies, as well as broadcasting and telecommunication services, including broadband and Internet access.”
Espinosa’s Story:
Espinosa was a contributor to Cuartoscuro, AVC news agency and Proceso magazine who in June this year fled the state of Veracruz after experiencing a series of incidents of intimidation and harassment as a reporter. On July 31, he and fellow activist Nadia Vera Pérez of #YoSoy132, Vera’s two roommates and a domestic employee were found dead in a Mexico City apartment.
On August 6, PanAm Post reported that the chief suspect declared that two other people were involved in the murder, but the motives and circumstances that lead to the multi-homicide are yet unknown.
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