CERDAFIED-Corruption is under attack! Using technology to protect the whistle blowers, computer experts are finding their niche in the world of crime prevention by following the example of WikiLeaks. The newly spawned MafiaLeaks aims to tackle another sinister element of society, namely the Mafia.
Anonymous computer experts will wage their own war on the mob by allowing gangsters to anonymously divulge information on criminal activity and supply whatever evidence is available to them. The evidence will be passed on to investigators and journalists.
MafiaLeaks is quite confident in their ability to not only protect the whistle blower but to find an ample supply of wagging tongues. In fact, their spokesperson, an activist going by the name of Bobby, has revealed that the site is already working.
Their goal is to disintegrate the mafias code of silence, their main source of protection, and tap into the large pool of victims and eye witnesses who would otherwise be afraid to come forward. Mafialeaks wants to reach within the organization itself. This can only be achieved by the absolute protection of the identity of the MafiaLeaks witnesses, as well as their company employees. Their site is a high security, untraceable Tor anonymity network.
Tor protects you by bouncing your communications around a network of numerous relays run by volunteers all around the world: it prevents somebody watching your Internet connection from learning what sites you visit, and it prevents the sites you visit from learning your physical location. It defends against traffic analysis, according to their website.
The second goal is to broaden their connection to legal authorities and news agencies. They expect to complete that process by the end of this year. Authorities maybe skeptical but they are willing to see if they can get meaningful leads from this new source. Some are concerned that it will produce nothing more than an avalanche of petty crime reports that will bog down the authorities. Others speculate that rival gangs will blame crimes on each other in order to get rid of the competition.
Bobby is upbeat about their mission, “We need the media to make people realize there’s a new method for combating the mafia that doesn’t risk the life of those who blow the whistle.”
He is convinced that the cell phone camera will be a great tool in providing evidence of shakedowns, money laundering, larceny, drug operations and more. It will take some time to see how effective and trustworthy the site is. After all, the mob is techno-savvy too and with so much on the line they are sure to take the threat to their criminal organization seriously.
The MafiaLeaks website is focused on the Italian mobs and is written in Italian, unlike WikiLeaks international focus. Letting the general public know about MafiaLeaks is crucial to its success. Please share this information and help with this valiant effort to unravel crime syndicates.
Perhaps someone out there will be inspired to create Policebrutalityleaks. Currently we have a Facebook and website called filmingcops.com and they are doing a great job of bringing attention to this growing abuse of power, though police are rarely fired or even reprimanded. You may send your footage to them and the information about the event.
Breaking the “Thin Blue Line” will be as difficult as breaking the mafia. So let the information leak out. Viva la Leaks!
(Lisa Cerda is a contributor to CityWatch, a community activist, VP of Community Rights Foundation of LA.)
CityWatch
Vol 11 Issue 97
Pub: Dec 3, 2013
