The power of Web 2.0 is in full effect over at Digg, where users are revolting over Digg's decision to pull a story (that netted over 15,000 diggs) and reportedly boot a user for posting the HD-DVD AACS Processing Key number, which would allow someone to crack the copy protection on an HD-DVD. The front page (along with two and three) of Digg consists entirely of stories flaunting the number or criticizing Digg for its actions.

While it might not have proven to be the best course of action in hindsight, we seriously doubt that Kevin Rose's decision to pull the story revealing the HD-DVD key was selling out or intentionally betraying the community. A number of people have pointed out that HD-DVD is a Digg sponsor, and have used that fact to level such charges at Kevin.

We have sponsors too, but that doesn't ever mean we'd sell out our readers or alter our content because of those sponsors. Kevin has equally shown nothing but commitment to the Digg's users, community, and site's integrity. People should hear out his explanation for this move before wholesale trashing Digg's founder.

That said, tonight's been a watermark in social media, even just looking at the ingenious (and often hilarious) variations users have come up with to cram the key into headlines, comments and users invites. Personal favorite so far: "Digg deleted my hard drive for posting the HD-DVD KEY! Now my hard drive refuses to write in binary. I get Error Code: 09-F9-11-02-9D-74-E3-5B-D8-41-56-C5-63-56-88-C0 . Oh noz."

Jesus, this is just some proof that diggers are complete and total morons. Instead of alerting people who could actually MAKE USE of the keys, the thirteen year old dateless lowlifes went around saying "09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0" in every fucking thread. Look at the outcomes.

1) HD-DVD encryption keys were changed
2) No HD-DVDs were actually played thanks to this valuable information
3) Digg was ruined for a day, who really wants to see eighty different 'articles' talking about 09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0?
4) Regular threads were spammed with the string of numbers.
5) There are only a few HD-DVDs using these keys
6) Who the fuck even has an HD-DVD drive in there computer

Why not wait until more HD-DVDs were produced with the key / more people had the drives?

Why would Digg want the big companies to realize we new the key? What did you expect them to do, think "shit, they've got us now"? Fucking stupid. HD-DVD decryption was in our hands, and you fucking morons blew it. The story should never have been posted in the first place. The average Digger had no use for that information. It's not like VLC Media player has an "input HD-DVD encryption key" dialoge box we could've used.

Thanks a lot, assholes. Rather than showing the encryption keys to people who could've actually used it for good, we showed it to the general public who turned it into some shitty meme. That's all it is anymore, a shitty meme. We no longer have anything. You morons fucking ruined it.

WE CAN NO LONGER USE THE KEY "09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0". THEY CHANGED THE KEY.