STRATFOR: A member of the online activist group, Anonymous, released a video statement October 31 stating that it will continue to search for and publicize sensitive data about Mexican criminal organizations despite the physical threat of doing so. Based upon past examples, the latest Anonymous campaign against Los Zetas could spill over into the real world, resulting in violence and deaths as Los Zetas target a new group. Online media has been in conflict with Mexican criminal and drug organizations for some time now. Journalists are known to be targets of the cartels and plenty have been killed in the past. Bloggers are also included in the online media campaign against the cartels, but they have typically not been targeted as much — likely because the information they post has not had as much of an impact on cartel operations as the journalists have. However, that could be changing with the addition of Anonymous to the anti-cartel online media campaign in Mexico. Throughout August and September of this year four people with connections to anti-cartel blog websites have been attacked.
· Two individuals killed and hung from a bridge in Nuevo Laredo with signs warning not to post on blogs.
· A girl found beheaded in Nuevo Laredo who had contributed to anti-cartel blogs in the past.
· Additionally, an Anonymous member claimed that a volunteer was abducted by Los Zetas while distributing pamphlets in Veracruz. MORE