Justice Department closes MegaUpload operation, hackers retaliate by disabling DOJ's online platform.
In a significant move towards protecting digital privacy, California Governor Jerry Brown has signed the California Electronic Communications Privacy Act (CalECPA) into law. This new legislation requires California police to obtain warrants before requesting online data, demonstrating the state's commitment to its residents' privacy.
Meanwhile, the Department of Justice (DOJ) is taking a firm stance against crime related to the use of cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin. Over 150 federal prosecutors have been enlisted to strengthen law enforcement's efforts in this area.
A notable action by the DOJ was the shutdown of MegaUpload, a file-sharing platform accused of facilitating digital piracy. As a result, 18 domain names were seized, and more than $175 million in assets were confiscated. Four individuals were arrested in connection with the case.
The affected platforms included popular social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, as well as email services. Seized items, besides the usual newspaper and magazine clippings, clothing, and gifts, also included various documents. Fifteen Mercedes-Benzes, a Lamborghini, a Rolls-Royce Phantom, a 2010 Maserati GranCario, and other exotic vehicles were among the seized assets. Some of these vehicles had vanity license plates such as "GOD," "HACKER," "STONED," "MAFIA" and "GUILTY."
It's important to note that the European Court of Justice previously declared US digital privacy laws inadequate. However, the CalECPA aims to enhance digital privacy protections in California.
In other news, the FBI has released a detailed inventory of items seized from former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago home, which included boxes containing top secret and other classified documents.
The DOJ's actions against MegaUpload and its intensified efforts against cryptocurrency-related crime are part of broader initiatives aimed at combating corporate fraud and antitrust violations. However, there is no recent or detailed public DOJ announcement of a large criminal copyright prosecution directly linked to the hacker group Anonymous. For more specific and current information on this topic, further specialized searches including DOJ press releases on copyright enforcement or cybersecurity crime units, or coverage from technology and legal news outlets focused on digital piracy and hacker-related prosecutions may be necessary.
- The department of Justice (DOJ) has shown interest in technology as they are taking a firm stance against crime related to the use of cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin, employing over 150 federal prosecutors to strengthen law enforcement's efforts in this area.
- In the realm of general-news, the California Electronic Communications Privacy Act (CalECPA) has been signed into law, a significant step in technology that requires California police to obtain warrants before requesting online data, aiming to improve digital privacy protections following the European Court of Justice's declaration that US digital privacy laws are inadequate.
