According to 4Chan & Dmitriy Guzner, the DDOS was a response to Scientology's false DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) attacks against the internet for the fair use of a video with Tom Cruise convincing members to donate money.
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=4271465
http://www.whyweprotest.net/en/more-about-anonymous/
A US Secret Service investigation began as the Church of Scientology deemed the result an act of terrorism. It forced the California courts to adhere to US Code: 18 U.S.C. § 1030 (a) (5) (A) (i) "computer fraud" and (B) (i) "damages thereof" - Pushing a maximum 10 years in prison and with fines of up to $250,000.
"The common purpose is the prevention, detection, mitigation and aggressive investigation of attacks on the nation's financial and critical infrastructures." _ einformation.usss.gov
It quickly became a waste of tax payer dollars as the "crime" had no real financial impact and was obviously out of the jurisdiction of the USSS. Also considering financial crimes (such as online theft) are increasing so that the Federal Law Enforcement cannot remotely keep up with it.
October 17, 2008 - The case was settled in court (plea agreement) for $37,500 in alledged damages; "Damages" to Scientology as an estimated cost near $1,000 for seventy computers with unavailable access to the website.
The controversial Scientology has since updated their servers through Prolexic Technologies to prevent future Denial of Service problems. Scientology continues to use fraudulant DMCA and legal threats to remove any criticism about their organization from internet websites - Online protesters continue (said) responses.
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