U.S. Congresswoman Condemns Chinese Attack on Change.org

Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) asks U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to denounce attacks on the U.S.-based social action platform Change.org after a campaign by famous art museums calling for Chinese artist Ai Weiwei’s release went globally viral on the site.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) called late Monday for U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to publicly condemn an ongoing Chinese attack on Change.org, the world’s fastest-growing social action platform.

Last week Chinese hackers launched a highly sophisticated cyber-attack on the US-based social action platform after more than 90,000 people in 175 countries endorsed an online call for the release of internationally acclaimed Chinese artist Ai Weiwei, an increasingly outspoken critic of the Chinese government. The petition now has more than 120,000 signatures.

Rep. DeLauro urged Sec. Clinton “to condemn this attack on Change.org and call on the Chinese government to take swift action to ensure that this attack and others like it in the future are stopped swiftly and that the perpetrators are brought to justice.”

“I believe this attack on Change.org from outside of the United States is an attack on Americans’ fundamental right to free speech and another example of the Government of China’s intent to restrain human rights,” she wrote in a letter to Sec. Clinton. “The American public rightly expects protection from foreign cyber-attacks against digital communications.  As millions of Americans regularly use the Internet to engage in the political process, it is vital that we strive to protect online services, which facilitate open debate.”

The ongoing attack, which temporarily brought down Change.org at intermittent periods over the past week, follows the viral success of a Change.org petition calling for Ai Weiwei’s release by leading global art museums, including the Guggenheim Museum, New York, the Museum of Modern Art, New York, and the Tate Modern, London, as well as the Association of Art Museum Directors.

Change.org asked the U.S. State Department and FBI for help within hours of the attack. The State Department has condemned previous attacks on U.S. companies like Google. Change.org has formally requested Sec. Clinton’s office to issue a statement about the attacks on the leading social action platform.

“This is an ongoing, highly sophisticated attack on a U.S. company specifically designed to suppress the ability and legal right of American citizens to organize around the issues they care about,” said Ben Rattray, the founder of Change.org. “Chinese hackers are illegally trying to prevent people around the world from expressing their support for leading global art museums working to free China’s most famous artist. We are both honored and grateful to have the support of Rep DeLauro in calling on the State Department to take this seriously.”

For exclusive quotes, media can contact Change.org’s Director of Communications Brian Purchia at press@change.org.

Change.org is the world’s fastest-growing platform for social change — growing by more than 400,000 new members a month, and empowering millions of people to start, join, and win campaigns for social change in their community, city and country.

To download the letter from Rep. DeLauro to Sec. Clinton (text below):
https://change.box.net/shared/rn02ah949v

April 25, 2011

The Honorable Hillary Clinton
Secretary of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20520

Dear Secretary Clinton,

I write with regard to the continuation of cyber-attacks emanating from China and specifically to express my concern over a recent apparent cyber-attack from China on the U.S.-based website Change.org.  This attack is particularly troubling as it represents an effort to both suppress internet freedom in the United States and human rights in China.

As you may know, the online social action platform Change.org-an entity engaged in efforts to empower people to mobilize in order to fight for justice locally, nationally and globally-recently came under a sustained distributed denial of service attack reportedly originating from within China.  Moreover, the intent of the attack appears to have been to make Change.org inaccessible in response to a popular petition asking for the Government of China to free Chinese artist and activist Ai WeiWei, who has been detained by Chinese authorities.

The American public rightly expects protection from foreign cyber-attacks against digital communications.  As millions of Americans regularly use the Internet to engage in the political process, it is vital that we strive to protect online services, which facilitate open debate.  I believe this attack on Change.org from outside of the United States is an attack on Americans’ fundamental right to free speech and another example of the Government of China’s intent to restrain human rights.

In a speech last year, you made clear the U.S intention to address issues related to internet freedom with China “candidly and consistently in the context of our positive, cooperative, and comprehensive relationship.”  I strongly agree with this approach, and accordingly respectfully urge the State Department to condemn this attack on Change.org and call on the Chinese government to take swift action to ensure that this attack and others like it in the future are stopped swiftly and that the perpetrators are brought to justice.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

ROSA L. DeLAURO
Member of Congress