Sanctions, Terror, and the Internet
Summary
Host James and guest Margaret Killjoy discuss the US government’s designation of the Italian hacktivist group Autistici/Inventati as a global terrorist organization. They explain how this economic sanction forced the group to shut down its infrastructure, including the NoBlogs platform, effectively cutting off thousands of independent blogs. The conversation explores the history of the alter-globalization movement, the role of autonomous internet infrastructure in social resistance, and the broader implications of state control over digital communication.
Topics discussed
Sponsorship and intro
Introduction to Autistici/Inventati designation
Origins in the anti-globalization movement
Indymedia and citizen journalism networks
Etymology and philosophy of the groups
Building non-corporate internet infrastructure
Impact of sanctions on NoBlogs users
Sponsorship break
Defining SDGT and FTO designations
Comparison with Holy Land Foundation case
Banking restrictions and compliance deadlines
Bank shutdown and legal challenges
Allegations of aiding foreign terrorists
Importance of communication in resistance
Case study: Myanmar and Facebook shutdown
Sponsorship break
Current status of A/I websites and servers
US jurisdiction over .org domains
DNS issues and potential hacking
Payment processing and platform shutdown
WordPress hosting and banking risks
Assessment of A/I decision to shut down
Threat to autonomous infrastructure globally
Distributed hacker culture and resilience
Outro and recommendations
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