Among the calls for justice in the Maryville , Missouri , rape case is one from a familiar Guy Fawkes mask-wearing face . Anonymous , the activist hacking collective that has instigated cyberattacks on such groups as the Church of Scientology and the Westboro Baptist Church , made a statement Tuesday regarding the case of Daisy Coleman , the high schooler who says she was raped by a local football player . The 2012 case is back in the news after a recent investigative report by the Kansas City Star raised questions about the way it was handled . `` We demand an immediate investigation into the handling by local authorities of Daisy 's case , '' Anonymous said . `` We have heard Daisy 's story far too often . We heard it from Steubenville , Halifax and Uttar Pradesh . ... If Maryville wo n't defend these young girls , if the police are too cowardly or corrupt to do their jobs , if justice system has abandoned them , then we will have to stand for them . '' The statement closed with Anonymous ' traditional tagline : `` We Are Anonymous . We Are Legion . We do not forgive . We do not forget . '' Missouri prosecutor to seek special prosecutor in teen rape case . A rape case may seem like a strange cause for Anonymous , which is better known for defending Internet freedoms . But it 's not the first time the group has gotten involved in high-profile episodes of of bullying or sexual assault . Last year , it posted information about the reputed tormenter of Amanda Todd , the Vancouver girl who committed suicide in 2012 after a topless photo of her led to teasing and abuse at school . Anonymous also threatened to reveal names of students involved in the 2012 Steubenville , Ohio , rape case involving a high school girl who was sexually assaulted by two high school football players . Witnesses to the crime talked about the incident on social media sites , sharing photographs and using degrading terms for the victim . CNN reached out to Anonymous for comment via a Twitter site affiliated with the collective but did not immediately receive a reply . The group sees itself as a defender of the defenseless . It was also active in spreading the word of the Occupy movement and making trouble for opponents . Who is Anonymous ? Everyone and no one . `` Anonymous likens itself to the Air Force of the Occupy movement , '' CNN 's Amber Lyon reported in 2012 . `` When they see evidence of what they believe is police misbehavior , Anonymous strikes back , releasing personal information about specific officers . '' Gabriella Coleman , a professor at McGill University in Montreal who 's written extensively on Anonymous , says the group has gotten involved with rape cases only recently . `` Historically , Anonymous tended to get involved in censorship and social movements , '' she said . `` But because they have no mandates , there have been operations relating to any and every cause . If there 's one that becomes particularly powerful -- and I would say that 's what happened with Steubenville -- then it does become part of the repertoire of injustices they get involved in . '' If there 's a particular perceived injustice , the group is more driven to get involved , Coleman says . In the Maryville case , authorities dropped the charges against the athletes who had been implicated in the alleged rape . But , Coleman adds , there 's also a bit of chance involved . She said Anonymous picked up on the Maryville case after a Twitter message was sent to an account affiliated with the group . It read , `` This is what happens when Anonymous does n't get involved in a rape case , '' with a link to the Kansas City Star story . The fact that the case was essentially closed may have prodded the collective , she adds . `` Basically , it 's case closed , '' she said . `` If it was an ongoing case , they would still maybe get involved , but it attracts more attention in a situation like this . There are still a lot of questions . '' Maryville is the third rape case Anonymous has been part of in a year , she observes . Though Anonymous originated out of the website 4chan and initially took on activities for thrills , its focus has changed in the past few years , says Coleman . Now , operations tend to be politically motivated -- and there 's even some backbiting if things get out of hand . For example , people involved in the Maryville project have been critical of the Steubenville operation `` because there was so much collateral damage , '' Coleman said . `` They do learn from previous operations , '' she said , though the nature of Anonymous is that its activities remain fluid . It 's difficult to know whether Anonymous ' demands have had any impact on the Maryville case . But Missouri Lt. Gov . Peter Kinder on Tuesday called for a grand jury review of the evidence .
Hacker collective is demanding an investigation into handling of Missouri rape case . Group posted statement online Tuesday criticizing law enforcement . Anonymous : `` If justice system has abandoned ( victims ) , then we will have to stand for them '' Expert : If there 's a perceived injustice , the group is more driven to get involved .