ABSTRACT
Aside from the re-appropriation of denial-of-service (DoS), the collective has committed to the development of highly creative and performative actions. This approach is rooted in the constant quest for mischievous humour or, as the group calls it, 'lulz'. This chapter explores this central element in relation to the historical practice of combining humour and protest. It examines the activist practice of Anonymous and considers its relationship with the politics of technology and information. The chapter then retraces the path of Anonymous, from its origin as a group of trolls and pranksters to its public rise as a fierce digital activist movement. Central to Anonymous's practice is an original take on the power of humour and laughter as communication tools. Finally, the chapter discusses the core challenges faced by Anonymous which are related to the use of its main resistance tool, Low Orbit Ion Cannon (LOIC), as well as the increasing prosecution of digital activists.
