2008 G.Q.H. - a Chinese girl posted a video complaining about the victims of the Sichuan earthquake and making disparaging comments against the victims. The video went viral in Chinese web users as the video generated public outcry, followed by a "human-flesh search engine", or 'doxing', which mistakenly identified the girl's name as Y.Z. and released her contact information. After receiving numerous harassment and death threats she was moved into police protection in fear of her life.
2008 Patrick Rogan - a police officer who body-slammed a cyclist, asserting the said cyclist had veered into him, charging him with assault, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. A video captured by a witness surfaced on the internet shortly, resulting in dropped charges against the cyclist and Pogan was found guilty and convicted.
2010 Luka Magnotta - posted 'snuff' films of animal cruelty, leading to the creation of a private Facebook group /FindtheKittenVacuumer which identified the Canadian of the alleged crimes and alerted the authorities. The investigation led to connections to a more publicized case involving murder and dismemberment. He was apprehended and charged in 2012. The group was renamed during the aftermath to /ForGreatJustice.
2010 Mary Bale - threw a neighbor's cat into a trash bin in Britain, captured on a CCTV camera. The video went viral in popular imageboard 4chan where the users were able to identify and locate the woman in the video. Employer information, personal information were released and she received multiple death threats and harassment and was forced into police protection.
2010 Operation Payback - Aiplex Software, MPAA and RIAA were the targets of a DDoS attack launched by internet vigilante group Anonymous in response to the company's admission of implementing DDoS attacks on suspected copyright violators including P2P sites. A consecutive attack was launched against the UK IP Office website for "Perpetuating the system that is allowing the exploitative usage of copyright and intellectual property."1
2011 Vancouver - the 2011 Stanley Cup Riots involved hundreds of rioters in the downtown core of Vancouver following the loss in the Stanley Cup Finals. Web pages and Facegroup pages sprung up to identify and publicly shame alleged offenders by revealing their names, contact information, and pictures. Some evidence were collected by the police to help the investigation.
2012 Amanda Todd Incident - after the suicide gained international attention internet vigilante group Anonymous released personal details of a man located in B.C. which resulted in harassment and multiple death threats. After police statement after an investigation revealed the man had not been involved in the case.
Dec 16 Update: Anonymous hacks Westboro Baptist website, again, in response to threats to picket funeral service for slain children in Sandy Hook Elementary Shooting.
1. http://torrentfreak.com/anonymous-takes-out-uks-intellectual-property-office-website-101017/
2008 Patrick Rogan - a police officer who body-slammed a cyclist, asserting the said cyclist had veered into him, charging him with assault, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. A video captured by a witness surfaced on the internet shortly, resulting in dropped charges against the cyclist and Pogan was found guilty and convicted.
2010 Luka Magnotta - posted 'snuff' films of animal cruelty, leading to the creation of a private Facebook group /FindtheKittenVacuumer which identified the Canadian of the alleged crimes and alerted the authorities. The investigation led to connections to a more publicized case involving murder and dismemberment. He was apprehended and charged in 2012. The group was renamed during the aftermath to /ForGreatJustice.
2010 Mary Bale - threw a neighbor's cat into a trash bin in Britain, captured on a CCTV camera. The video went viral in popular imageboard 4chan where the users were able to identify and locate the woman in the video. Employer information, personal information were released and she received multiple death threats and harassment and was forced into police protection.
2010 Operation Payback - Aiplex Software, MPAA and RIAA were the targets of a DDoS attack launched by internet vigilante group Anonymous in response to the company's admission of implementing DDoS attacks on suspected copyright violators including P2P sites. A consecutive attack was launched against the UK IP Office website for "Perpetuating the system that is allowing the exploitative usage of copyright and intellectual property."1
2011 Vancouver - the 2011 Stanley Cup Riots involved hundreds of rioters in the downtown core of Vancouver following the loss in the Stanley Cup Finals. Web pages and Facegroup pages sprung up to identify and publicly shame alleged offenders by revealing their names, contact information, and pictures. Some evidence were collected by the police to help the investigation.
2012 Amanda Todd Incident - after the suicide gained international attention internet vigilante group Anonymous released personal details of a man located in B.C. which resulted in harassment and multiple death threats. After police statement after an investigation revealed the man had not been involved in the case.
Dec 16 Update: Anonymous hacks Westboro Baptist website, again, in response to threats to picket funeral service for slain children in Sandy Hook Elementary Shooting.
1. http://torrentfreak.com/anonymous-takes-out-uks-intellectual-property-office-website-101017/