Sony Pictures has had a change of plans recently regarding the planned release of the political comedy, “The Interview,” which was set to air in theaters on Christmas day. A film, starring Seth Rogen and James Franco, depicts two journalists who are assigned by the CIA to assassinate Kim Jong Un, the dictator of North Korea.

A group identifying themselves as the Guardians of Peace sent online messages warning moviegoers away from the film, and telling Sony to take it out of theaters and offline. The threats sent by this group caused five of the biggest movie chains to drop the film. Shortly after, Sony Pictures acquiesced to the threats and pulled the film from theaters. The Guardians of Peace later claimed responsibility for the release for thousands of confidential documents from Sony. The US determined that North Korea was the root of the hacking and threatening messages, although at this point, nothing has been brought forth publically.

Concurrently, although the measures taken by Sony have been precautionary, they have been vilified in the United States court of public opinion. Regarding the decision, President Obama said it “is a mistake,” and “[North Korea’s actions] were acts of cybervandalism.” The significance of these events will not be overlooked, not only due to the threat to our freedom of expression, but also the risk of America’s safety.