News that a call between the FBI and Scotland Yard was recorded and leaked by the online hacktivist group Anonymous broke earlier today. Confirmation from the FBI that the call was indeed real was made today. A spokesman stated the following:

“The information was intended for law enforcement officers only and was illegally obtained. A criminal investigation is under way to identify and hold accountable those responsible.”

The conference call, which is reportedly 15 minutes long, was held to the state of investigation and prosecution of Anonymous and LulzSec. There is some debate about how the group acquired the recording, but there are indications that it may lead to a compromised email.

The recording seems to focus on two figures in the shadowy world of Anonymous. One was a teenager named Ryan Cleary, who has been investigated in relation to the LulzSec group that wreaked havoc throughout 2011. The other is another youth named Jake Davis, who is being prosecuted for compromising British agency websites among others that were targeted. Discussions around legal strategy and evidence details took place.

The release comes on the heels of a refocus by the group against bodies of law enforcement around the world, in addition to their traditional cause of internet freedoms. As discussed here on SiliconAngle, this is one element of a sustained launch on numerous targets throughout today.

Anonymous has been very active in early 2012. This road leads to a much more significant year in terms of cybersecurity and continued assaults throughout the world. Rather than slow Anonymous down, they seem to have gotten stronger and much bolder. What is emerging is a pattern that indicates that cybersecurity must be the top priority of all agencies. This news will likely be followed by news of continued attempts at legislation aimed to secure and further to prosecute. As Anonymous continues its pace, the stakes become greater and greater. Where this leads is anyone’s guess.