This afternoon while chatting online a FBI warning appeared on my computer screen warning that I was engaged in illegal activity due to changes in the FCC policy, the FBI had traced my IP address and that I was not to disconnect from the network. Getting this bizzare message I immediatly went to www.fcc.gov to obtain more information. On the fcc website is the following ominous message:

NOTICE: Due to the elevated homeland security alert announced March 17, 2003, the FCC has taken additional security precautions that will limit visitor access to the FCC headquarters building in Washington, DC. Until further notice, the Maine Avenue lobby is closed. All visitors must enter the building through the 12th Street lobby, and will require an escort at all times in the building. In addition, the Reference Information center is closed, but filing and docket information remains accessible online (click on "Search" above).

What the hell is going on America?

Having held my nose and logged into an anti-war chatroom on MSN (a medium I would otherwise never go near- IRC is much better), I didn't experience anything of the sort.

If a room dedicated to a highly controversial topic doesn't produce what you describe, it's hard to think of one that would.

There are two likely scenarios:

1. You encountered a chatroom equivalent of BA or Smashy- a right-wing zealot trying to intimidate people online with a canned official-looking shtik, probably produced by a script.

2. You yourself are trying to intimidate people online by spreading phony scare stories.

...somebody jumped the gun.

There is a group of online rightwing fascists named KOBE. They collect IP information on opponents to Bush and harass them. Some of them are hackers. Nearly all of them are ex-military. One of their members is working for the Mossad. Here is their website:

http://www.kobehq.com