Government's Internet crackdown was timed to thwart 'Cyber Monday' crimes

Attorney General Eric Holder said Nov 29 the government crackdown on websites facilitating copyright infringement was timed to coincide with the holiday shopping season.

The government has shut down 82 websites in the past few days as part of "Operation In Our Sites II," an effort by the Justice and Homeland Security Departments and nine attorneys general offices to debilitate fraudulent Web domains. "As of today -- what is known as 'Cyber Monday' and billed as the busiest online shopping day of the year -- anyone attempting to access one of these websites using its domain name will no longer be able to make a purchase," Holder said Monday at a press conference. AG Holder said seizure orders for the domain names were obtained from U.S. magistrate judges.