Mob Takes Over at Digg, Widespread User Revolt

Just a few hours ago I was writing that there was a reason why Digg had censored an article pointing out the HD-DVD Processing Key. While Digg is right to do so, and Jay Adelson has explained the reasons on the Digg blog, this hasn't stopped the Digg community from a full-fledged revolt.

It appears that the mob has decided to take matters into its own hands. The front-page of the socially driven news site is being flooded with stories containing the now infamous numbers:

This incident only goes to show that the social web is a great tool in the hands of the masses, but in the absence of any moderation or regulation, the masses can become a mob; and this tool in the hands of the mob can lead to nothing good.

**Disclaimer: I am a Netscape Navigator

Enjoy the post? Here are some more that may interest you.

Marketing Pilgrim, May 1, 2007: “The Diggocracy Strikes Again” — Muhammad Saleem at Pronet Advertising reported this morning on a story that got banned on Digg. The story in question refers to, and asks the readers to spread the HD-DVD Processing Key for all movies that have been released in the format so far. Digg ...
TechBlog, May 1, 2007: “Digg by the numbers” — Recently, the AACS encryption key used to copy-protect HD-DVD discs was cracked, and the string of numbers was posted online. This is, of course, a potential violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, a disclosure of proprietary intellectual pr...
MathPoints, May 1, 2007: “Digg, HD DVD key, Overflow” — All the stories that made it to the front page are related to this topic and lots of other HD DVD keys stories floating around as well.
Loud Music is a $40 Fine, May 3, 2007: “Blogging is Hard” — Wow, has it been two months since I posted anything here? I guess it has. Skipping two months between posts is the best way to lose readers. Haven’t posted much because, to paraphrase John Lennon, “life happened despite my plans.” ...

Cameron Olthuis, May 1, 2007

crazy!

Christopher Finke, May 1, 2007

Another Digg user revolt? Must be the first of the month again...

Oz, May 1, 2007

Oh I bet they are there... they are just sitting back overwhelmed with the response and thinking about what should be done. Comply with diggers or just be dictators

Lee, May 1, 2007

Kevin Rose brought this upon himself. I am not angry that they are removing those who post the code. I am angry that they are banning those who question the actions of the administrators. Digg often silently pulls this tactic where they ban anyone that shows public dissatisfaction with the state of the site or accuse the site of censorship. Thankfully, this time digg did NOT GET AWAY WITH IT.

The site's integrity is ruined, and it's about damn time.

julien, May 1, 2007

this is so insane.

Ben, May 1, 2007

"This incidence only goes to show that the social web is a great tool in the hands of the masses, but in the absence of any moderation or regulation, the masses can become a mob; and this tool in the hands of the mob can lead to nothing good."

I disagree and this whole episode has been relatively harmless and not at all indicative of what a real mob is capable of. This is a user revolt over censorship based on an undisclosed business conflict of interest. There was no need on Digg's part to act as swiftly and as harshly as they did, a slow response that emphasized taht they were being sued by HD-DVD would have been a better response as it would have galvanized the community in support of Digg even if they caved in the end. Digg was proactive on this request primarily because they did not want to put at risk a lucrative promotional arrangement they have with HD-DVD. There is a major difference here and I strongly believe that Digg did the wrong thing here.

hmm, May 1, 2007

"but in the absence of any moderation or regulation, the masses can become a mob"

no.....this was caused because of the moderation and regulation....nobody is worried about the key anymnore.....i guess the fight is for freedom of speech....

alex, May 1, 2007

Nothing good? That screenshots are showing us that democracy is the base of Digg and other social sites even with moderation.

This HDDVD number is news and news is what ppl want to see in Digg. Against or with the law.

I cannot agree with you on that dude, regards

greenm3at, May 1, 2007

diggs deserves it. too bad for them.

eBusiness, May 1, 2007

Truth is the editorial/censorship team at Digg has been removing stories for months and claiming that users were "Bury"ing them. They deserve this We need a real Digg alternative.

Brian, May 1, 2007

You can pick up the HdDVD code t-shirt here:

http://www.cafepress.com/dlkmadsen.129054705

Stravos, May 1, 2007

Please post digg alternatives ASAP. I just had it with those morons!

Stravos, May 1, 2007

Please post digg alternatives ASAP. I just had it with those morons!

Free Nature Photography Wallpaper, May 1, 2007

Censoring I have to say should in no way be enacted in the Digg Environment. The whole structure relies on the fact that we as a group decide what is relevant. Digg is not CNN or ABC. There should not be any bias towards a certain topic. If the users have chosen it, it should continue its journey of popularity.

Aaron, May 1, 2007

If 90% of the people in the U.S. today all thought it was ok to massacre everyone in the state of Rhode Island, is it okay simply because the majority has deemed it so? Absolutely not. It is illegal and should be treated as such. Just because every guy with an internet connection logs on to Digg and says its ok to post illegal materials, doesn't make it right. Even in a Democracy, the government steps in to prevent wrongs. That is exactly what they're doing here, preventing the wrong as best they can.

If only the digg community would think for just a moment. Not about what they selfishly want, but what is right. Just because the majority wants it, doesn't mean they should get it. Take a basic ethics class, or attend high school.

Here is a link on the subject so many seem ignorant about: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy

Anon, May 1, 2007

Wow! You're absolutely right AARON, numbers are copyrighted, amirite?

LGR, May 1, 2007

Tough situation for Digg. If they sided with the users they faced huge lawsuits. They side with the MPAA and loose the respect of the users. Tough choice.

mercutiom, May 1, 2007

While I agree that the constant reposting of the same information over and over again was annoying, it only lasted for a couple hours, and other stories are once again making it to the front page. Besides, what's the problem with people expressing their interest? It's news that people want to have and so they demanded it. Other people were nice enough to supply that information. Supply/demand, sounds like capitalism to me.

Sporky42, May 1, 2007

Ya sorry there Aaron, but posting 09f911029d74e35bd84156c5635688c0 is not in any way illegal. It is simply a number. Nothing more. YOU CAN NOT COPYRIGHT A NUMBER. I honestly don't understand why you would think it is illegal to put a number online.

Chris, May 1, 2007

Yes, because watching HDDVD on Linux instead of Windows is comparable to genocide.

Matt, May 1, 2007

I thought Digg would have stood up under the DMCA loopholes, but I am sorely mistaken.

Aaron, May 1, 2007

I never said posting a number was wrong, it most definitely is not, but providing the means with which to do wrong makes a man just as guilty, and that can be proven with case law. If the purpose of posting that number is to allow others to infringe on copyrights, then you're aiding in a criminal act.

Betovarg, May 1, 2007

We are not a mob... we are the users, and we were treated the wrong way. Without us, digg does not exist.

Anon-E-mouse, May 1, 2007

Incidence? Don't you mean incident? Incidence is rate related.

Okay, the school marm left the room.

Digg is going to have more than a revolt on its hands if it doesn't revoke the bans on certain user. Moreover, if this keeps up, people like me are going to look for another site altogether to keep up on things like that. I am certain I'll find it.

Digg can dig its own grave if it tries too hard.

Blackbag, May 1, 2007

If 90% of the people in the U.S. today all thought it was ok to massacre everyone in the state of Rhode Island, is it okay simply because the majority has deemed it so?

Actually it would be be ok through jury nullification. 9 out of 10 jurors wouldn't convict.

unnamed top digger, May 1, 2007

Wait for the CNN article on this one!

richee, May 1, 2007

We all have an internal sense of right and wrong. A moral compass if you will. Yes Aaron, murder is wrong. You don't need a law to tell you that. If you do, you are insane.

What you DO need a law for is to tell you that a string of numbers has become outlawed in the interest of the business prospects of a few. That is not a part of our natural sense of right and wrong; it's an artificial construct.

We elect people to decide for us what these artificial constructs should be, but sometimes those people don't catch up to the majority as quickly as we'd like. This is what's happening in the new information era.

We are deconstructing our old laws and prohibitions because they are no longer useful towards our individual sense of progress. In this way we as a whole are deciding what we want for ourselves.

rgh, May 1, 2007

Two things: It's not illegal in some countries and sending out Cease and Desist letters does not constitute "illegal".

Please think about these things before you start calling people a "mob"

benji, May 1, 2007

Diggers just have an inflated sense of self-importance. The masses are in such a frenzy that they really think they're starting some sort of digital revolution. It's a natural phenomenon but unpleasant nonetheless. Comparing themselves to civil rights leaders? "Civil disobedience" from the comfort of their own homes?

annonymous, May 1, 2007

Go back to the 20th century Benji. We are Annonymous. You can't stop us. Your children will be like us. We are the owners and operators of our universe.

Look at you, you hypocrite. Spouting off on this "internet" you so disparage...

I bet for you the internet only means AOL and Amazon.com ads.

Pathetic

benji, May 1, 2007

Haha, touched a nerve, have I? I've been a casual but frequent observer of Digg for years. I'm not totally submerged in the hardcore net sub-culture, but I'm no stranger to it. Your post is a great example of the overinflated ego that many diggers have.

My children will be like you? Do you know how many people in the United States are aware of the "digg revolution" going on right now? How much TV coverage will this get? How many political candidates will use this as a campaign issue? What do you think is going to change as a result of this "rebellion"? Digg may change their policies somewhat or maybe lose some of its popularity, but is the DMCA going to be struck down? Digg is popular, no doubt about that, but in the big picture, this "revolt" is insignificant. Enjoy your universe, if you want, but remember that there's a far bigger and realer world out there that doesn't really care about a few thousand diggers' indignation.

I don't hold it against you, you're only human, but it becomes ridiculously comical when people start comparing this to the Protestant Reformation. A better comparison might be the French Revolution and the Reign of Terror. Except, you know, totally insignificant.

Andy, May 1, 2007

This is the most incredible thing ever happened to Digg...

Innomado, May 1, 2007

Looks like there are two arguments going on here and people aren't keeping them separate, which is causing some little confusion.

Argument one concerns the censorship of the HD-DVD processing key.

Argument two concerns a second problem of censorship that has come to light from the turmoil created by the above censorship of the HD-DVD processing key. That problem being the censorship of posts and comments that are critical of or speak negatively about Digg.

Of the two, the second argument is what I believe is (subjectivly) the more important one to Digg users since it ultimately concerns Diggs value and integrity as a democratic forum for information and opinions.

The first argument on the other hand concerns a single piece of data that (as I understand) is legally recognized, as a trade secret since the public revelation of that data threatens the ability of business's to protect copyrighted material from piracy. That threat to the protection of copyrighted material is why there is a claim to the right to censor said data and take punitive action against those who knowingly disseminate it to the public.

While there is room for an argument about whether or not that right to censorship is valid, and while it is possible that opponents to such methods may have a moral right to disseminate that information as an act of civil disobedience, this is a much broader that problem does not directly concern Digg. What factors are of concern are DRM, DMCA, and similar systems that serve to limit peoples access to any and all information. What information should everyone have access to? What information should be kept from being spread freely? Why? Etc.

Super Dude, May 1, 2007

"Mob"? "Nothing Good"? Hmm, this article sounds really biased to me.

There is a difference between censorship and complying with legal obligations. It is clear which path Digg has taken.

tank6b, May 1, 2007

Let?Ǭ�s Make some History http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firstwwwwar

Matt, May 2, 2007

But the users were right.

dictators suck, May 2, 2007

So you're lamenting the fact that the people actually had their voices heard? What kind of bottom feeder are you Saleem?

agot, May 2, 2007

The revolt worked - and it looks like you can commemorate the uprising with a t-shirt, LOL. Isn't there a tech conference coming up we should all wear this to? http://www.cafepress.com/saggingsquirrel

Stefan, May 2, 2007

ive never seen a geekier subject for people to 'revolt' over. how bout you guys just loosen up your suspenders and relax a little bit

clickfire, May 2, 2007

It's not censorship. No one has a "right" to publish incriminating content on someone else's site.

Asia, May 2, 2007

I believe that Kevin Rose should have stood behind his original decision and remove the posts, if he felt it threatened the community as a whole. Call it censorship or whatever, but in theory, his decision wasn't a bad decision. Google does the same, they remove content when asked - source: Google's Response to the Viacom Complaint.

What I found disappointing, was the banning of the original poster. That action was uncalled for, and a public apology might have saved Rose a lot of stress. In the end however, Digg.com, as all other social networking websites, are the at the mercy of their user.

Digg users around the world may be sitting around celebrating their win, but at what cost, they may feel that they have power, but the realization is that there is trust lost in the user system at Digg. I no longer know that I can trust Digg users to provide unbiased content, when it was so clear in yesterdays saga, that Digg is controlled by cliques (clicks!). That alone worries me and may be reason I unsubscribe.

QRS Software, May 2, 2007

You guys do not get it, HD DVD and Blu Ray have become a monopoly for the inventors of the technology. The parties that have introduced the technology are trying feverishly just to get their investmant back. We replicate the SD DVD and CD-ROm and it very hard just to break into the HD relm. Sony and their Keys have made it virtually impossible to brooker a job. I qoute from the AACS licencing. We called to brooker a job ad they Siad " We do not want brookers in the middle of these projects since it will drive up the cost which will then make it more difficult to get new companies to take on the technology." Intersting to me since our company has supported the Standard Definition disc and taught many companies the basics on how to even complte a replication project at many hours of our time which costs us money. Now HD and Blu Ray are here and they say By By brookers step out of the way.

QRS Software, May 2, 2007

So yes Digg had to take the story down or be sued

RainRider, May 2, 2007

Down to the bootstraps boys and girls. The only ones who have any interest in this at all is those who PIRATE the DVDs. If you can't afford the movie, don't buy it, rent it. Those who copy DVDs are thieves. Period.

Dee, May 2, 2007

Anyone else reminded of the flap over encryption and the now-infamous PGP t-shirts?

Information was meant to be free, any attempt at restricting access, both in the context of Digg's heavy-handed response and the HD-DVD encryption itself, is doomed to fail. Digg was under no legal risk, they quitely likely fall under the DMCA's safe harbor laws as a host of user-created content, and the key itself isn't copyrighted material as far as I know, they fought like hell just to protect their business interests, now they're paying the price. And I think this more than anything else points to the inherent insecurity of security through obscurity and the futile nature of content protection; and the need to adopt a new technological paradigm before the industry is ravaged by cypherpunks and hackers, and rightfully so.

Arojekt, May 2, 2007