LulzSec is not an isolated phenomenon - official efforts to control Internet-increasing online radicalization

Now that the boat sailed LulzSec over the horizon, it seems a good time to take stock of the past few weeks '\' hacktivism "taking frenzy. Geeky teenagers who are also global cyber-villains - we 've Spinner with pictures of lurking in dark chatrooms bombed. Given the coverage, we 'd be forgiven for thinking that it' s all about the personal obsessions of a few nerds. This would be to ignore the wider context.

LulzSec wasn 't an isolated or unique phenomenon. People with passion convictions were cause by new technological tools to change out of a sense of powerlessness. Last year, I 've seen 38 Degrees with the strength of association online to change government policy, WikiLeaks force transparency on those who' d rather be executed by him, the amorphous mass, the anonymous comments on what topic they feel deserve their attention.

These tools are now themselves under attack. Lord Mandelson 's last gift to us, the Digital Economy Act is just one of a series of "three-strikes law" to cut off the world, households from the Internet threat. Buried in the coalition 's Prevent strategy is to say that "Internet filtering over the public good is essential' is. Also, it is not just a British problem; Nicolas Sarkozy online global governance at the eG8 demanded in his attempt to civilize the "Wild West" of the site.

We 're off to see what brings this process of civilization. Open Rights Group revealed that Ed Vaizey and lobbyists a secret meeting on the future of the web-blocking powers instead. There was no public scrutiny, and no one questioned the net natives. Vaizey has a slight concession on Twitter, consent to the opening of the discussion - the Pirate Party and I welcome the invitation. However, it is more than a few NGOs to facilitate, at a table to the actual sense of anger poisoning of the online community.

What even the MoD insists on calling "cyberspace" has become contested territory. Many recent events have been fuelled by a fear that the internet is under siege by governments hell-bent on restricting its subversive potential. Nato has added to this perception with violent rhetoric and an expressed desire to penetrate Anonymous. No surprise the response has been "Well, penetrate you, Nato".

We 've reached a critical point: either we sail headlong into escalating confrontation, or we try to change tack and reduce the voltage by a democratic way forward that preserves our right to free association. Of anonymous blogger in Iran, to the use of Twitter and Facebook in Tahrir Square, and even teenagers in bedrooms of Essex, there is a thread. A sense of persecution and dismayed that our freedoms are suppressed.

These concerns haven 't go unnoticed, a recent report by the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression, Frank La Rue, explicitly criticized legislation including the Digital Economy Act, considering it a violation of freedom of speech. This broad side of La Rue's finally spurred into action our members. An Early Day Motion calling for a review of the invasive provisions of the Digital Economy Act was sponsored by Julian Huppert. It is just 26 of his colleagues, which show that there are very few in the Commons prepared to appear for an online support constituency.

In the coming days it can prove that the actual headline last Saturday was not the dissolution of LulzSec, but the fact that ISP Telstra withdrew from an agreement with the Australian government in order to implement Web filtering because of hacking concerns. This was presented as a major victory. As long as it seems that the direct effect is more effective than democratic commitment, it 's clear that the former appear to be an attractive option for many. The official line is that the Internet is a dangerous terrain to conquer, is responsible for an alarming radicalization. This is not just a topic for the tabloids 'nerds and freaks, it' s an issue for everyone who believes in the fundamental importance of freedom.

It 's time for governments to turn their ship around and plot a new course.