Weeks after a federal judge ruled that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration had immorally approved an abortion pill responsible for over half of the nation’s abortions, the American College of Pediatricians (ACP), a pro-life organization, survived a series of cyberattacks aimed at sabotaging the group’s credibility.
.@ACPeds has come under numerous hacking attacks since a federal judge ruled in its favor and halted the FDA's approval of of a drug used in chemical abortions.
We are grateful for their fight for the unborn and for their commitment to not back down! https://t.co/H5Ey3LeRVi
— Heritage Foundation (@Heritage) May 5, 2023
The aggressors initially targeted the ACP’s key technology structures, databases, and financial accounts, breaching at least one of the organization’s archived websites on April 24. During the plot, around 10,000 once-secure Google Drive documents containing sensitive information on the ACP’s donors, supporters, and beliefs were unjustifiably put at risk.
Before the ACP could secure its archived website, the documents were leaked to Wired, a left-wing technology publication. Wired then published an article criticizing the ACP’s stance on marriage, sexuality, and abortion.
The ACP finally reclaimed control of its website, but two days following the publication of the Wired’s article — hackers attempted to usurp the organization’s email distribution platform. In response, ACP Executive Director Dr. Jill Simons issued a statement denouncing the cyberattack and stating that the organization had contacted law enforcement agencies, including the FBI.
Simons also declared that the ACP would not be intimidated by such illegal bullying tactics. The cyberattack against the ACP highlights the need for greater protection of pro-life organizations from violent and criminal acts. In recent months, pro-lifers have faced extreme violence and crime for their beliefs.
After the Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson decision, violent abortion advocates targeted over 100 pro-life organizations, pregnancy centers, and churches across the country. Yet, the FBI’s focus was on arresting pro-life father Mark Houck, who was acquitted of all charges brought by the Biden administration.
The ACP is one of several pro-life organizations that make up the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, which alleged in a federal lawsuit last year that the FDA had wrongfully used accelerated drug approval authority to endorse mifepristone without studying its detrimental and fatal effects on women and babies.
Pro-life organizations are vital in advocating for the rights of the unborn and protecting the health and well-being of both mothers and children. These organizations should be able to operate without fear of violence and crime.
