In July, CrowdStrike caused a global IT outage, which I wrote about here:
What I learned from the ‘Microsoft global IT outage’
A website called clownstrike.lol popped up, which displays a clown with some clown music:
CrowdStrike used CSC to submit a baseless takedown to Cloudflare, from an “antifraud” email address:
Cloudflare took the website offline. Cloudflare are famous for platforming nazis, and refuse to take the sites offline or terminate the customers in the name of free speech.
Cloudflare and Crowdstrike formed a strategic partnership this year:
CrowdStrike also issued a take down notice for a parody label:
They have since rescinded the take down.
I have also heard from other security industry people who’ve had takedown notices.
Pretty obviously, parody is allowed under US law, including with trademarks. Critique is also allowed.
Given the cybersecurity industry’s access to systems and legal processes for takedowns of bad actors, it is unfortunate optics to see baseless takedowns being issued by such a major player — in error or not, the people sending them are acting on behalf of CrowdStrike.
Last week, the CEO of Delta — one of their biggest customers — gave a TV interview about CrowdStrike, which you can watch below, where they said they are exploring legal action against CrowdStrike:
https://medium.com/media/323b77b83a62c3e04a5fc5b3a3926a24/href
CrowdStrike have reacted by threatening their customer: