Amazon stops hosting WikiLeaks site

2010-12-02 06:45:53 GMT+7 (ICT)

NEW YORK (BNO NEWS) -- Amazon.com on Wednesday stopped hosting WikiLeaks in its servers and the site was unavailable for several hours until it was moved back to its previous Swedish host Bahnhof.

Amazon, which is best-known for its retail site, also offers hosting web sites for a fee. However, the U.S.-based company did not said why it forced WikiLeaks to stop using its servers to distribute confidential documents.

The decision to kick off WikiLeaks from its serves came after U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman questioned the relationship between Amazon and the controversial site. According to Lieberman, committee staff contacted Amazon on Tuesday demanding an explanation.

"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," said the Senator after knowing Amazon's action. "I call on any other company or organization that is hosting WikiLeaks to immediately terminate its relationship with them."

In response, WikiLeaks posted on its Twitter account that if Amazon does not want to do business with them, the organization will instead spend its money European countries. The site also criticized the lack of free speech in the so-called land of the free.

Before releasing the controversial documents on Sunday, the WikiLeaks website, where 505 leaked cables have been posted so far, was under an Internet-based attack and had to move the site to Amazon Web Services.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has also been in trouble after Interpol issued a 'red notice' on Tuesday. He is wanted for allegedly raping two women while living in Sweden.

The release of confidential documents, most of them related to the United States, has caused diverse reactions. Some countries have praised the action and Ecuador even offered asylum to Assange. On the other hand many more, led by the U.S., have condemned the release and labeled it as a danger to national security.

"Wikileaks' illegal, outrageous, and reckless acts have compromised our national security and put lives at risk around the world. No responsible company – whether American or foreign – should assist Wikileaks in its efforts to disseminate these stolen materials," said Sen. Lieberman.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2010-12-02

Fear of legal ramifications? Fear of being the target of DoS attacks?

The fun starts,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Maybe Amazon stopped hosting but wikileaks.org is in the air and running.

Just tried to make sure; running 100%

LaoPo

Ah, Joe Lieberman, the beacon of enlightenment and freedom...or not.