Shallow Victory for Scientology
Internet, USA
June 9, 1999
Heise newstickerVisit http://www.heise.de and search their archive for the original article in German. For L. Ron Hubbard's policy on press relations, visit http://www.innernet.net/joecisar/thesis.htm. Here is a review in English of the Heise article on Safe, the a.r.s. poster:
According to Heise Online, "AT&T company WorldNet handed over the customer data of a user called 'Safe' to the controversial Scientology sect; he had used his WorldNet address to post two sect internal documents to the usenet group alt.religion.scientology. In one message with the subject 'Disproving False Data ... Dead Agenting,' he quoted sect founder Ron Hubbard in the dealing with 'Black Propaganda'; in the second message he listed '274 Crimes in the Church of Scientology.'" Because of his postings, Bridge Publications alleged a copyright violation against Safe.
This is not the first time Scientology has attempting to interfere with Usenet.. In January 1995 Scientology attorney Helena Kobrin posted an order to remove the entire news group from the internet. She did not like the fact that the news group contained the word "Scientology." Later that year, cult lawyers tried to keep anonymous remailers from posting to the news group. Finally, according to Heise Online, " At the end of February internet book dealer Amazon gave way to pressure by Scientology and removed a book critical of the sect 'A Piece of Blue Sky' from its selection. However, after massive international protest, the book was reinstated in the Amazon catalog at the end of May. [1]. (wst [2]/c't)"
URL of the German Article:
http://www.heise.de/newsticker/data/wst-09.06.99-001/