« We will exhaust the investigational resources of bounty hunters, their snitch sites, and online gathering spaces, » said the hacker group in an online video.
Just two days after Texas’ new abortion ban went into place on September 1, self-proclaimed « Anonymous » hackers launched #OperationJane on Twitter. Texas’ anti-abortion legislation makes it illegal for a pregnant person to seek a legal abortion after six weeks. There are no exceptions for instances of incest or rape. The ban also allows individuals to sue other individuals for up to $10,000 if they are found guilty of attempting to facilitate an abortion after the sixth week of pregnancy. Texas set up websites for people to report pregnant individuals and the internet has labeled this as an « abortion bounty. » Now, many individuals who disagree with the ban are taking to social media to discuss their disdain. The Twitter account @OperationJane launched on September 3 and states in the bio that it is partnered with @ExpectUsTexas, another account attempting to challenge the new abortion ban. Many think the name originated from a covert abortion network that was established before Roe v. Wade was passed in 1973. The Jane Collective, also known as Jane, operated out of Chicago before abortion was legalized and helped pregnant people receive abortions.
