In the context of the lawsuit threatened against Andrew Morton for his unauthorized bio of Tom Cruise, Gawker posts the Tom Cruise video for the first time after being linked by Mark Ebner, an investigative reporter. The Huffington Post picks up the Gawker entry and posts it. The original Google Video videos are taken down by the original poster. After doing so, several others post the video on Youtube after which copyright infringement letters are sent taking them down. After noting the issues with copyright infringement and the attempted 'suppression' of the video, Gawker reposts the video to its website. After blogging several times on the Cruise bio published on the 15th, Gawker specifically focuses on Scientology's claims against Morton's representation of Scientology. Despite threats of legal action, Gawker responds to the notice claiming that the video is used "in the context of news reporting and critical commentary," and cites fair use. Part of the investigation is posted on Gawker the next morning. Created by "Weatherman," the page is initially barebones, but includes a declaration of war on Scientology. Apparently in response to the Gawker post that reported attempts to suppress the Tom Cruise video, Anonymous attempts to begin DDoS's against Scientology on 4chan. After some success in getting channers to attack scientology.org, 'war' is is declared and PROJECT CHANOLOGY is started. Church0fScientology posts "Message to Scientology" on YouTube and then to 4chan. "Message to Scientology" is picked up on KNBC and a pic of it is posted to 4chan at this time. While of potentially questionable merit due to its anonymous nature, a threat of lawsuit is posted on 4chan at this time. An image at this time suggests that scientology.org.uk is being DDoS'd by eBaum's World. The image may be a ruse. This appears to be the start of it. This person appears to then appeal to other chans in the next hour. At some point during the day, Andreas of Operation Clambake disclaims the DDoS strategy used against Scientology. At this time, Wikinews picks up on "Message to Scientology" Keyloggers were used to obtain logins to hack 711chan.org. Admins are able to retake the site within three minutes, but twelve hours later, the site is retaken and backups are deleted. Following the spat of attacks on 711chan by The Regime, 711chan.org admins call for an end to raids from 711chan. After first being on the TV earlier, the powder story is picked up by the AP, but no probable culprit is mentioned. The article also mentions the accidental attack on the family from Stockton but does mention an apology from a member of Anonymous. At some point during the day, anti-Scientology links begin to appear on Digg, starting with <a href="http://digg.com/health/Mr_Miscavige_why_are_your_followers_dead">Mr. Miscavige, why are your followers dead?</a>. Shortly thereafter, other posts are made, including leakage of several secret Scientology documents. At some point during the day, secret Scientology documents are leaked from the Scientology website and posted up through Digg. HauntedRobot mentions the second leakage of Scientology documents on Digg in the SomethingAwful thread. Sometime after the Digg article calling for a Feb. 10 raid on the London Scientology headquarters is posted, Slave announces it on the Something Awful thread. Sometime before today, Prolexic is contracted by Scientology to defend their site against DDoS's. It appears unsuccessful upon the apparent success of the 3rd wave. At this time, the Digg article announcing a raid on the LA Church of Scientology is announced on the Something Awful thread. The raid is also scheduled for 11AM (local time) on February 10. Over the next 48 hours, "Message to Scientology" and the self-declared 'War on Scientology' begins to get international attention as multiple international and local news sources begin to post articles on the DDoS's. Starting with Sky News, multiple News Corp outlets and European news websites begin to cover the attacks. Starting on January 22, Warren Ellis, author of the graphic novel Transmetropolitan posts several blog posts that express some solidarity with the ideals of Anonymous. The Scientology Volunteer Minister Corps sets up a yellow tent to help 'assist in improving the lifestyle of the populace' of the Philippine city of Baguio. Randomness posts a reportedly genuine e-mail from Pauline Cooper in support of Anonymous on the SA forums. mrfancycrackers claims to post a reply to an e-mail sent to Noam Chomsky, in which Chomsky expresses favor of exposure, but concern about tactics: <blockquote>Hadn't heard about it. I'm all in favor of exposure, but closing of websites and so on is dubious and dangerous, in my opinion. Just imagine what will happen if the tactic is taken up by those with real power.</blockquote> The first wire picks up on the attacks on Scientology at this time, with UPI referencing the video "Message to Scientology" and the DDoS attacks. At this time, 711chan.org is reported down due to "The Regime" on SA for the first time of four or five in the next two days. <blockquote>this site s not been blessed by The Regime and is deemed lame. 711chan is lame, all 711chan affiliates are lame. Chanology is lame, Scientology is lame. /i/ has been rm. /loli/ has been rm. infact /loli/ has some questionable material. 711chan == pedos. /nochildpr0n/ actually, /*/ has been rm. have a nice day theregime@regimesyndicate.org</blockquote> Wired is the first site to publically break the news that initial 3rd wave attacks had the wrong IP address and instead targeted the website of a Dutch school, Etty Hillesum Lyceum. Scientology gives its first response to the denial-of-service attacks to its websites, focusing on the copyright claims to the Tom Cruise video. Following the success of getting media attention for the DDoS attacks on Scientology, raids similar to the London and LA raids are beginning to be planned at this stage. The first of a spat of early raids, video of a raid on the Church of Scientology in Toronto is posted on YouTube. Mark Bunker of XenuTV, also known as "Wise Bearded Man" or WBM, posts the first of a series of video responses to Anonymous on YouTube. He appears to express solidarity, but also dismisses a simple DDoS tactic. The popular "After Your Check Clears" poster is first posted by Anarchist at this time. It is soon translated for several other nationalities. Impacting the spread of news about the war on Scientology, Digg censors all Scientology articles at about this time, preventing all future submissions to never make the front page. Due to the ongoing Anonymous vs. Scientology war and various threats to himself and Andrew Morton, Ian Halperin goes incommunicado to avoid attention from Scientology. At about this time, following a series of successful appeals for more raids on February 10, Anonymous's "Call to Action" video is posted on YouTube. Soon afterwards, <a href="http://www.prlog.org/10047683-internet-conflict-with-scientology-expands.html">a press release is made</a>. DawnOlsen, of Glosslip, features an expose of Scientology on BlogTalkRadio as she interviews author and Scientology critic Ian Halperin. Longtime Scientology critic Arnie Lerma is also present later on in the program. Arnie Lerma begins to post in the Something Awful thread on the Anon v. Scientology war, following his appearance on Glosslip Radio XboxPants shows a screencap illustrating Mark Bunker's tentative agreement to attend the LA raid. I believe this is the first time he is called "Wise Beard Man" on SA. Initially in Swedish, a forum member from SA soon translates the claim that Anonymous is secretly a psychiatric front group. A source tells Radar at this time that the Church of Scientology has invited the FBI to investigate Anonymous's attacks on itself, claiming that such attacks constitute "illegal interference with business." After posting a parody of the Tom Cruise video, the Damn! Show website, www.damnshow.com is hacked with the message "Seek the fundamental truth" left on the website. Following up on the radio show the previous night, Glosslip begins to post an expose on the power of the CoS over several days. The Church of Scientology in Portland bought the historic Stevens Building for $5.38 million paid for by donations of church members. The church seeks to relocate into the building. The brother of a 47-year-old woman is arrested for 'kidnapping' her and holding her against her will in the city of Civitavecchia, Italy. The brother and sister were Scientologists, and the brother is thought to be an OTVIII. Arnie Lerma speculates that she was detained while trying to leave Scientology, much like Lisa McPherson. At about this time, according to Wired, the Lawson couple claim to have started getting threatening phone calls regarding The Regime. Initially starting at 2AM the previous Saturday, the Lawson couple had been harrassed mistakenly by Anonymous having thought they had info on The Regime, who took down 711chan. Wired posts about the couple's predicaments at this time. Wired updates the story at this time with a message from g00n, who claimed they had found information that had linked the IP address associated with the Lawsons to The Regime's hacking of 711chan. However, no information other than the IP address match up, and reports of an unknown younger individual answering the phone previously are provided. By this time, Message to Scientology has 1.5 million views, 17 thousand ratings, 13 thousand comments, 8 thousand favorites, and 215 video responses. At this time, the first article recording Nancy Cartwright's (the voice of Bart Simpson) $10 million donation to help the Scientology 'Global Salvage' effort is published. Cartwright's donation is twice that of Tom Cruise's standard donation. The Anonymous vs. Scientology war gets the first significant radio talk show attention on the Iowa radio station 98.3 WOW-FM. Mark Bunker is on as a special guest, and Tory Magoo, several Anons, and a self-proclaimed Scientologist call in. The host slyly includes numerous /b/tard and Goon catchphrases. There are even suggestions that the host is reading the SA thread at the time. After being alerted by a phone call near the Italian town of Nuoro, Italian police arrest three French Scientologists suspected of holding a fourth Tunisian woman against her will. The January 31, 2008 issue of <The Economist> publishes a largely supportive article in favor of Anonymous in the war against Scientology. In Sderot, Israel, the Association for Prosperity and Security in the Middle East, a potential CoS front-group, has sent e-mails to social workers advertising free workshops including social and psychological services. Several organizations claim an intent to investigate the group. A video response expressing solidarity with Anonymous, and hoping for a continued fight against Scientology until the war is done. No identity is given or known for the poster. On this date, Time magazine's cover story, "Scientology: The Cult of Greed" is an expose on the inner workings and issues with Scientology. Defamer leaks a letter sent to US Weekly in which Kirstie Alley seeks the termination of an employee who added a Scientology joke in the January 7, 2008 edition of US Weekly. Seeking $150 to license use of an image from the AP for use on his website to protest Scientology, Arnie Lerma solicits for the $150 for his cause. Using the power of his mind, Arnie extracts $150 from fellow goons in under 5 minutes, "proving his power over MEST." After having been convicted of 'terrorizing' Scientology in 2001 and fleeing to Canada, Keith Henson is arrested in Arizona. After making a joke on Usenet about 'Tom Cruise Missiles', Keith Henson is charged with 'terrorizing' Scientology through his posts and picketing of one of its centers. The jury in the case rejected the claim that he was exercising his right to criticize a dangerous cult and convicted him on this date. As the first Something Awful thread nears a million views and reaches 200 posts, it is closed, and a second thread starts. The original thread is goldmined. At about this time, the Wired article about the Lawson couple appears on the front page of Yahoo! A letter from Congressman Leo Ryan (of Jonestown, Guyana fame) is dated today expressing concern and distaste for the 'jackals' of Scientology. At about this time, another early raid, this time in Orlando starts. Many signs seem facetious and contain phrases like "for the lulz" and "Xenu Eats Babies". Scientologists soon park U-Haul trucks in front of the building to block it off, which are soon ticketed repeatedly. The trucks are not moved. They also order pizza for some reason. According to the 'billion-year contract' signed upon joining the SeaOrg, this year is the earliest year SeaOrg members will be released from their contracts. At about this time, The Guardian posts an article on the war between Anonymous and Scientology on the front page of their website as the lead article with image. It is speculated that the article may feature in the print version later in the day. At this time, Wikinews freelance journalist Brian McNeil posts excerpts from a response from the Church of Scientology in regards to actions taken against Anonymous. In the response, a 'Laetitia' states that "Anonymous will be... stopped." The article is later updated to include statements that suggest that 711chan will, in fact, continue to support raids against Scientology. Tory Magoo posts a thank you to those who are fighting Scientology as Anonymous at about this time. At this time, a premeet for the Santa Barbara 2/10 raid is held and is crashed by several Scientologists. At this time, chully confirms the presence of the Scientology article in the paper version of The Guardian At about this time, on the CBC show "Search Engine," both Mark Bunker and several members of Anonymous are interviewed with regards to the activism against Scientology. Reaction from supporters of Anonymous is mixed. At about this time, it is reported that 'Voiceless', a collection of ex-Scientologists and those subject to its disconnection policy have posted a videos in support of Anonymous. At about this time, Morning Edition, on NPR, covers Anonymous's activism. At about this time, a parody of the animutation "Hyaku Gojuuichi" is posted to NewGrounds, also parodying Scientology. Sometime before now, the >i<Montreal Mirror>/i< reportedly covers the 'war on Scientology' on its front page. After examining the CoS 2006/07 NYE event, dedpixhl is the first to suggest investigating the corporate links between Coca-Cola, Dell, and Philips to the Church of Scientology. In their February 8 issue, the small New York City paper The Sun covers a case filed in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals seeking to remove a tax deduction for schooling that Scientology-based religious schools receive that Jewish and other religious schools do not. At this time, the Saint Petersburg Times posts a rebuttal letter from the Church of Scientology, claiming that Anonymous are religious bigots, and claiming that their guiding materials are the diametrically opposite documents, The Communist Manifesto and Mein Kampf. The Saint Petersburg Times also prints an article on the planned protests in Clearwater as well. Web Scout's LA Times blog covers the video referring to Operation Planetary Calm, and the claimed 'corporate tie-ins' to Scientology. Web Scout reports from having contacted communications departments regarding 'corporate tie-ins' to Operation Planetary Calm. All three companies, Dell, 7/11, and Philips Electronics claim that there is no evidence that this is happening with corporate consent. Following reports earlier in the week that files were moved from the LA and surrounding orgs, video is captured of files being moved from the Melbourne org. Furthermore, a claim is made of existing hostility and attempts to identify attackers. Reports soon claim that this is happening at orgs worldwide. 'Intelligence' is received, claiming that Sydney Scientologists were invited to attend a picnic at $200 a head. An article in the Observer, possibly in a blog, mentions protests against Scientology as happening that day. A story is posted to Sydney Indymedia site that claims that the Sydney protest has turned violent. The pictures are soon outed as fake, belonging to <a href="http://houston.indymedia.org/news/2005/05/39566.php">a violent stockholder protest outside Haliburton in Houston</a>. A similar fake story to the Sydney protest shows up regarding the Perth protest. The American Psychological Association rules unanimously that psychologists should not use Dianetic techniques in therapy, "in the public interest." I.I. Rabi, winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1944 writes a review of Dianetics in Scientific American at this time, concluding that it "probably contains more promises and less evidence per page than has any publication since the invention of printing." At about this time, following lawsuits and a contest over ownership of the term "Dianetics," L. Ron Hubbard founds the Hubbard Association of Scientologists International. He later regains ownership of the Dianetics trademark. On this date, the US FDA raids Scientology offices, seizes hundreds of E-meters, and declares them illegal medical devices. Henceforth, they carry a disclaimer stating that they are for religious use only. On this date, the IRS revoked Scientology's tax-exempt status, stating that practitioners were profiting from the "non-profit" Church, that the Church's activities were commercial, and that it served the private interests of L. Ron Hubbard. The Church announces its intention to ignore the decision and withholds tax payment for the next 26 years. On this date, the Sea Organization is founded as "an area where a Scientologist could come, who could safely then walk through [the] last wall of fire." It later becomes well-known for its billion-year contracts. Sometime this summer, Paulette Cooper's The Scandal of Scientology is published. In December 1971, a lawsuit against Paulette Cooper is filed by the Church of Scientology, demanding $300,000 for "untrue, libelous and defamatory statements about the Church." On this date, Paulette Cooper filed a counter-suit, demanding $15.4 million in damages due to Scientology harassment. Following the stealing of a quantity of stationary from Cooper's apartment this month, the New York Church of Scientology received two anonymous bomb threats on the same stationary. In this month, Cooper is arraigned for the bomb threats made against the church. On this date, plans are created "[t]o remove PC from her position of power so that she cannot attack the C[hurch] of S[cientology]." These plans include framing Paulette Cooper of making threats against both Arab consulates and the American President and Henry Kissinger. As a part of the ongoing Operation Snow White, two Scientology agents, Michael Meisner and Gerald Bennett Wolfe, are caught in the act of committing attempted burglary at a Washington DC courthouse. During this period, Clearwater, Florida becomes increasingly owned and operated by Scientologists. Starting in October 1975 with the purchase of the Fort Harrison Hotel and Bank of Clearwater buildings, Scientology proceeds to purchase more land and gradually takes over the city. In order to "root out and remove 'false files' about the Church and Hubbard held by governments around the world," Hubbard establishes the Snow White Program, a secret program designed to infiltrate 17 governments and 3 international organizations. This program is established through Guardian Order 732 on April 20, 1973. On July 7, 1977, the FBI raids Scientology's headquarters in Washington, and begins a lawsuit that exposes the fact that the Snow White Program acted as the largest single infiltration of the American government to date. (Feb 1 2007) Sometime in October of 1979, eleven Scientologists, including Hubbard's wife, Mary Sue, are convicted of conspiracy, and sentenced to imprisonment for two to six years for their involvement in Operation Snow White. On this date, the first 'freezoners' (or as the Church of Scientology calls them, 'squirrels') begin to exist following the establishment of Operation Phoenix, which states that "The Theta of the old church has exteriorized from the moribund body and has taken new form in OPERATION PHOENIX..." On this date, Flag Order No. 3905 is issued, forbidding Sea Org members from having any more new children. This order is potentially interpreted later on as forcing members to have unwanted abortions. Ironically, the famous newsgroup created on this date is created with a forged newgroup message from the MIT AI Lab posted by 'David Miscaviage'. During this timeframe, Scientology wages its first war against the Internet, primarily focusing on the newsgroup alt.religion.scientology. On this date, someone using a Dutch anonymous remailer posts OTI, OTII, and New OT issues 34, 35, and 36 to alt.religion.scientology. Former Scientologist Dennis Erlich announces that the material appeared genuine. Following the posting of OT documents on Usenet, RTC attorney Helena K. Kobrin issues an rmgroup control message to attempt to delete the alt.religion.scientology Usenet group. It claims that the newsgroup was started with a forged message, not discussed on alt.config, contains the trademark 'Scientology' which is used misleadingly, and is abused with copyright and trade secret violations, serving no purpose other than such. The rmgroup message is generally ignored. In March 1996, protests and picketers appear outside Scientology locations around the world, but notably in Clearwater, as they protest against the Church's policies of harassment.