// HACKER NEWS — CYBERSECURITY
Autistici/Inventati case sets a new counterterrorism precedent, Irdi says
Why it matters. The designation marks an unusual use of U.S. counterterrorism sanctions against a European technology collective whose main activity is providing digital infrastructure – from encrypted communications to web hosting.
What happened. On August 26, the State Department, working with the Treasury Department, designated Autistici/Inventati (A/I Collective) as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist under Executive Order 13224.
Washington specifically cited the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which is designated as a terrorist organisation by the United States and is also on the EU terrorist list. Treasury says Autistici/Inventati was designated for having “materially assisted” or provided technological support, goods or services in support of an act of terrorism
Q: Irdi, what is the most significant element of the U.S. decision?
Q: So the United States is not targeting an operational organisation in the traditional sense?
Q: How much will the sanction actually affect Autistici/Inventati?
Q: In other words, the strongest effect could be ostracism.
Q: And does this also change the way authorities need to look at the threat?
Q: From the standpoint of the legal safeguards typical of Western democracies, how do you see it?
Q: Could Washington ask its allies to follow the same path?