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Autistici/Inventati shuts down after US terrorism designation
The Italian digital collective Autistici/Inventati (A/I) has announced the closure of all its services following its designation as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) organization by the United States Department of the Treasury.
The US government accuses the collective of providing critical digital infrastructure—including encrypted email, web hosting, and anonymity tools—to far-left militant groups and organizations such as the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). The US Treasury's decision, made under Executive Order 13224, aims to disrupt the support networks of extremist groups.
Autistici/Inventati, which has operated for 25 years, has rejected these accusations, maintaining that its tools are provided for digital self-defense and privacy. The collective stated that the decision to shut down was driven by the need to protect its users and community members from potential legal and financial repercussions resulting from the US sanctions.
The designation had immediate practical effects, including the loss of the group's .org domain and the freezing of its financial assets, such as PayPal accounts and bank services. While the US has labeled the group a terrorist entity, Italian authorities have not issued any similar designation or legal action against the collective.
Entities
Autistici/Inventati · Banca Etica · Donald Trump · Indymedia · Indymedia Italia · Italy · Kurdistan Workers' Party · PKK · United States Department of the Treasury
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Autistici/Inventati rejects the US allegations, stating that anti-fascism and anti-capitalism are not terrorism nieuwrechts.nl · www.ilfattoquotidiano.it
- [● 4 SOURCES] Autistici/Inventati announced it is shutting down all its digital services krapuul.nl · www.peacelink.it · www.ilfattoquotidiano.it · netzpolitik.org
- [● 2 SOURCES] The collective has provided digital services for approximately 25 years www.peacelink.it · www.ilfattoquotidiano.it
- [● 4 SOURCES] The collective stated it is closing to prevent legal and financial consequences for its users and community members krapuul.nl · rdl.de · www.ilfattoquotidiano.it · netzpolitik.org
- [● 3 SOURCES] The US designation resulted in the loss of the group's .org domain and the freezing of its PayPal and bank accounts www.peacelink.it · www.ilfattoquotidiano.it · netzpolitik.org
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The collective is not considered a terrorist organization by Italian authorities www.peacelink.it
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The US Treasury Department designated Autistici/Inventati as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) organization www.peacelink.it
- [● 2 SOURCES] The US government accuses the collective of providing digital infrastructure to far-left militant groups and organizations like the PKK krapuul.nl · www.ilpost.it