The names of about 1,000 alleged members of Ku Klux Klan (KKK) have been published online by the hacking group Anonymous.
The loose coalition of hackers released the list to coincide with the Million Mask March last night marking Guy Fawkes Day. The data published on Pastebin consists of the social media profiles of those who 'liked' KKK-related groups online as well as their closest associates.
Anonymous said it used human intelligence rather than hacking to collect the information over a period of 11 months.
"This means that individuals on this list were often identified by human sources of information through both overt (interviewing expert sources) and covert (digital espionage/social engineering) methods," a statement released on Twitter read.
The group launched its "Hoods Off" campaign targeting the KKK after the white supremacist group threatened to use "deadly force" against those protesting the killing of a young black person in Ferguson last year.
The list of names is preceeded by a short statement explaining Anonymous' motives for releasing the data.
"We hope Operation KKK will, in part, spark a bit of constructive dialogue about race, racism, racial terror and freedom of expression, across group lines," the group said.
"The reality is that racism usually does NOT wear a hood but it does permeate our culture on every level. Part of the reason we have taken the hoods off of these individuals is not because of their identities, but because of what their hoods symbolize to us in our broader society."
Novemer 5 is particularly significant for the group because it commemorates Guy Fawkes' failed attempt to blow up Parliament in 1605. Guy Fawkes masks from the film, 'V for Vendetta' have become a symbol of the group and were worn by thousands participating in marches in cities around the world last night.
Dubbed the 'Million Mask March,' people including members of Anonymous protested against capitalism and the perceived inequality brought about by governments. Thousands took place in a march in London where there were at least 50 arrests.
Earlier this week a fake list was leaked, incorrectly labeling several US politicians as members of the KKK. The false release, which is seen as an embarrassment for the group, was quickly followed by a statement from Anonymous' official @Operation_KKK Twitter account.
"The anons at the helm of this initiative vouch ONLY for the dox list that will be released from this Twitter account on November 5 2015," it said.
The group has become known for backing social justice causes. In November last year Anonymous launched hacking attacks which took down two websites associated with the KKK and in 2012 the group exposed the names and personal details of people allegedly involved in covering up the rape of a 16-year-old girl in Ohio.
