This video clip, dated 1/11/2012, focuses on the recent actions and the motivations of Anonymous, utilizing clips from web videos and an interview with a self-professed member to illustrate its point. Though it is mainly meant to be an informational piece, there is a decidedly pro-Anonymous bias to it that rarely appears in mainstream media. Rather than taking a completely pro-government side, the CNN clip instead takes the Anonymous perspective.
The opening clip of police officers firing into a crowd, followed by the newscaster’s solemn comment, “It’s a dark and disturbing vision” serve to set the scene with a grim tone. This is followed by a description of Anonymous’ view, that the government has become altogether too powerful and violent, with police brutality and corruption is merely a symptom of the overarching governmental conspiracy. Open to a geeky-looking man with a Guy Fawkes mask who calls himself “Troy,” who they met at an Occupy Wall Street camp. This is where the interesting part begins. He describes the Anonymous organization as “like a hive.... an idea’s brought up and... if the overwhelming majority of people... agree with it, then we go with it.” The quote serves to give a simplified and somewhat idealized picture of Anonymous as a democratic entity; however, his hesitations and tendency to use improper grammar take a little credibility away from his statements. In between clips of the interview, flashes and sound bytes from various Anonymous propaganda campaigns play. Troy goes on to vaguely threaten those police that commit brutalities, claim to know how Anonymous gets personal information about said officers, but then, in an attempt to be the mysterious Anonymous cowboy he so idealizes, declines to comment on the method. The segment goes on to say that the Department of Homeland Security and FBI have issued letters and warrants in relation to Anonymous’ activities, summarizes the events of the Christmas Day Anonymous extravaganza, and ends on a positive note, saying that while Anonymous did hack and steal from a company, it gave the money stolen away to charity.
It is incredibly refreshing to see a mainstream media piece in favor of Anonymous’ agenda. However, the execution is laughable at best. ‘Troy’ offers several highly usable, if extensively edited, pieces of information regarding Anonymous’ mode of thought and organization. The clips spliced between interview segments serve to generate interest and intrigue, painting the group as a kind of Internet cowboy or Peter Pan, showing the idealistic side of the Anonymous nebula. Unfortunately, the information is so vague, and the primary source so very disputable, that it reads more like a human interest piece than a treatise on the activities and motivations of Anonymous.
