Flock and Cyble Inc. weaponize “cybercrime” takedowns to silence critics (haveibeenflocked.com)

Article summary

Cyble Inc., a company claiming to disrupt cybercrime, filed false abuse reports with Cloudflare to take down a website critical of Flock, a government contractor. The reports alleged trademark infringement and phishing, but the website's owner argues that the real issue is the exposure of Flock's mass surveillance platform. The website has since been moved off Cloudflare's infrastructure and continues to operate. The incident highlights the use of false reports to silence critics and undermine government accountability.

Main themes

• Mass surveillance
• Government contracts
• Cybercrime and censorship
• Corporate accountability
• Freedom of information
• Intellectual property disputes

What commenters say

• The behavior of Flock and Cyble Inc. is unacceptable and highlights the need for greater accountability and transparency in government contracting and surveillance.
• The distraction of social issues is a deliberate tactic to divert attention from the erosion of civil liberties and the exploitation of citizens by corporations and governments.
• The notion that certain regions or groups of people are inherently more intelligent or stupid is a myth with no basis in scientific fact, and such claims are often used to justify discrimination and social control.
• The lack of reliable data on intelligence and cognitive abilities is a result of the complexity and cost of conducting such research, rather than any deliberate attempt to suppress knowledge.
• The use of technology to surveil and control citizens is a threat to democracy and individual freedom, and companies like Flock are complicit in this effort.
• The elite control of wealth and power is a more significant issue than individual intelligence or regional differences, and it is this imbalance that enables the exploitation of citizens.
• There are ongoing efforts to hold companies like Flock accountable for their actions, including lawsuits and community-led initiatives to end contracts and promote transparency.
• The relationship between intelligence, education, and socioeconomic status is complex and multifaceted, and cannot be reduced to simplistic or deterministic explanations.