Tuesday, January 29, 2013

WE ARE LEGION: THE STORY OF THE HACKTIVISTS (2012) movie review


We Are Legion: The Story of the Hacktivists (2012) d. Knappenberger, Brian (USA)

The internet collective Anonymous is given a face behind its ubiquitous Guy Fawkes mask, with director Knappenberger tracking the group’s evolution from merry pranksters to controversial purveyors of protest, targeting heavyweight institutions such as the Church of Scientology, PayPal, Sony, and the Egyptian government. While they are portrayed as a force for “chaotic good,” their facelessness presents the frightening side effect that they can launch attacks on anyone, at any time, for any reason. If I have any complaint, it’s that the film gives only the vaguest lip service to innocent bystanders caught in the cyber crossfire. True, the organization has accomplished heroic deeds, but with great power comes great responsibility, as the saying goes, and it quickly becomes clear that not everyone involved is interested in being responsible, mature or in anything other than sticking it to The Man...whomever the all-too-subjective Man may be.

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