Canadian Freedom Convoy donations hacker arrested for U.S. cyberattack on GOP

The Canadian hacker who claimed responsibility for leaking Freedom Convoy donor data in 2022 has been arrested following charges filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

On Friday, March 28th, the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas announced the charges against Canadian left-wing hacktivist and self-proclaimed founder of “Anonymous”, Aubrey Cottle, 37 of Oshawa, Ontario. 

The charges are tied to his alleged role in a 2021 cyberattack on the Texas Republican Party. 

He was arrested Wednesday by Canadian authorities and faces criminal charges both in Canada and the U.S. 

The unsealed complaint in the Western District of Texas accuses Cottle of using illegal means to access a backup of the Texas GOP server containing sensitive personal information. 

The stolen data was exposed online, where prosecutors alleged Cottle also took credit openly via social media.

Cottle also claimed responsibility for hacking the Christian donor site GiveSendGo in February of 2022. 

The hack, similar to his Texas GOP stunt, was intended to leak donor information, including names, addresses and donations amounts, leading to widespread harassment of donors. 

Cottle admitted to the hack on an unhinged TikTok livestream, resurfacing on X since his arrest broke to the public.  

The year prior in 2021 during an interview with Vice News, Cottle admitted to being involved in the 2008 Anonymous attack on the Epilepsy Foundation’s website where the hacker created flashing animations used to target users with photosensitive epilepsy. 

The FBI Austin Cyber Task Force, with assistance from the Ontario Provincial Police and the Durham Regional Police Service, is leading the investigation. 

Cottle has been charged with unlawfully transferring, possessing, or using a means of identification to commit or aid unlawful activity. 

If convicted, he could face a sentence of up to five years in prison.