International Freedom of Expression Exchange: The global network for free expression
13 October 2004
Alert
AMARC and IFJ call for solidarity action on Indymedia closures
Incident details
Internet/website(s)Two Indymedia web servers were seized from the US-owned web hosting company Rackspace operating in London, UK, on 7 October 2004, at the request of the US Justice Department, which apparently acted at the prompting of Italian and Swiss authorities.
On 13 October, Indymedia launched an international solidarity campaign for the return of the servers and data seized by the authorities and for a full investigation into the action.
AMARC and IFJ described the seizure as an unprecedented attack on freedom of expression, which highlights the vulnerability of media freedom on the Internet.
The seizure of the servers in London shut down about 20 different Indymedia websites, including those in Ambazonia, Uruguay, Andorra, Poland, Western Massachusetts, Nice, Nantes, Lilles, Marseille, Euskal Herria (Basque Country), Liege, East and West Vlaanderen, Antwerpen (all Belgium), Belgrade, Portugal, Prague, Galiza, Italy, Brazil, the UK and Germany. Many are still offline and the few that have returned have suffered significant data loss.
For background on the server seizures see:
http://indymedia.org/en/static/fbi
http://www.indymedia.org
http://www.indymedia.org.uk
Source:
International Federation of Journalists
International Press Centre, Residence Palace
Bloc C, second floor, Rue de la Loi, 155
1040 Brussels
Belgium
Phone: +32 2 2352207
Fax: +32 2 2352219
World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC)
2, Sainte-Catherine East Street, suite 102
Montreal, Quebec, H2X 1K4
Canada
secgen (@) si.amarc.org
Phone: +1 514 982 0351
Fax: +1 514 849 7129
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