Why I am banned from associating with Anonymous

Web: jakedavis.org
Twitter: @DoubleJake
Email: [email protected]


I toyed with disclosing this for some time and have now decided to, given adequate time to see how a "communication ban" on twitter really pans out. There was originally nothing on my parole conditions about not associating or contacting any of my former co-defendants or anyone "linked to" the nebulous worldwide activist collective "Anonymous", until the police called my parole officer - while I was still in prison - and warned him that I had been communicating with Ryan Cleary. They apparently offered no elaboration, only that it must be explicitly clear that I in no way associate with him or others.

During the first week of my incarceration (middle of May 2013), I received a deeply heartwarming letter from Mr. Cleary where he - and bear in mind he suffers from autism - empathetically articulated how sorry he was for everything he'd done online, how it had corrupted him, how it had turned him into the type of person that launches DDoS attacks on websites for no apparent reason and neglects the real world for a cyber existence. He asked me to "teach him the ways of real life" because he "just wanted to be a normal person". He enclosed a first class stamp for me to write back.

After another week I decided to send him something - there were no conditions at the time stating I couldn't. I wished him the best, told him I understood how the computers had ruined our lives, and that I would try and introduce him to a more creative and stimulating society so that he could improve his general emotional and cultural well-being. We didn't mention the crimes, we didn't brag, we didn't reminisce, we just talked about moving forward, rehabilitating, and putting the past behind us. He sent a letter back thanking me for my response. The handwriting made it look like he'd given it a great deal of thought.

This was the only communication I had with anyone "associated to" Anonymous, and it was merely a response to an amazing letter sent by a man that just wanted to become a better, more productive member of society. For this reason, a malicious phone call was made and for the next year I now cannot communicate with 99% of the people that follow me on twitter. This isn't a problem for me and I don't intend to argue against it, but I felt like I needed to put out exactly why this condition is in place. It's in place because an autistic young man wanted my help in staying away from crime for good.

We need to rethink our criminal justice system.