The assumption of whether IBM m a major player in the tech or Internet side of things pertaining to the protest might be worth looking into.
Relationships between govt and tech industry for sure have existed, at that time the relevant and participatory parties may not have been present, or present in the way or on the sides being assumed if compared to today.
IBM, for instance, was part of military-industrial complex before the term was coined. That's why I am quite skeptical of the claim.