Amazon boots WikiLeaks from its computers
Amazon.com Inc. seems to have kicked WikiLeaks off its computers.
The website, which recently released troves of sensitive diplomatic cables, had been hosted by the online retailer’s servers.
But on Wednesday, WikiLeaks posted on Twitter that it had been “ousted.”
“Free speech the land of the free – fine our $ are now spent to employ people in Europe,” read one missive, quickly followed by another: “If Amazon are so uncomfortable with the first amendment, they should get out of the business of selling books.”
Political pressure forced WikiLeaks to return to its original Swedish host, Bahnhof AB, which it had abandoned in favor of Amazon after saying that its computers had been attacked.
Sen. Joe Lieberman, an independent from Connecticut, had urged Amazon earlier to ditch WikiLeaks. He encouraged other hosts to “immediately terminate” any relationship with WikiLeaks, which he accused of “illegal, outrageous and reckless acts.”
“I wish that Amazon had taken this action earlier based on WikiLeaks' previous publication of classified material,” Lieberman said in a statement. “The company’s decision to cut off WikiLeaks now is the right decision and should set the standard for other companies WikiLeaks is using to distribute its illegally seized material.”
Swedish police are searching for WikiLeaks founder and Australia native Julian Assange, who has denied accusations of sexual assault.
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-- Tiffany Hsu
Photo: In this photo illustration, a "WikiLeaks" graphic is displayed on a laptop. Bebeto Matthews/AP Photo.
