If we look back numerous weeks into the course one of our discussions was on the whole argument of free speech in the cyberworld vs those that want to control. We had cybertarians who believed that information should be free to everyone and should be shared, that nothing is secret. On the other hand you have organisations, particularly governments, who through censorship and other means attempt to control the flow of information for their own benefit. Does anyone see a parallel here?
To me the concepts of hacking, hacktivism and civic hacking are not necessarily new, they have just been adapted into a new form. Activism itself has been around for years and years, and although again it can take many different shapes and forms the principle is still the same, to bring about some kind of change. In terms of WikiLeaks I see them doing just that, they are revealing information that is being kept secret by Government's to protect themselves. By releasing this information they are trying to bring about a change so Government's begin to see that they should tell the truth from the start, if not it will come to light anyway. I see this as a good thing, even though it is associated with the hacking title, because WikiLeaks does indeed hack. What I like is that they leave systems intact and only aim to reveal information as they believe it should be free and thus people are entitled to know about it. To me, this might be the only real benefit of hacking and since they are going about it the right way....I applaud them!
Source: Khatchadourian, R. (2010) 'No Secrets: Julian Assange's mission for total transparency' The New Yorker, June 7. URL: http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/06/07/100607fa_fact_khatchadourian
I agree with your point about the concepts of hacking, hacktivism and civic hacking being nothing new. Perhaps an example that illustrates this is Socrates? I think that he was a guy who was all about challenging the status quo and bringing to light otherwise taboo, censored ideas or notions not endorsed by the state. This was way back in 400BC, but Socrates was aiming to bring about a change - to convert the thinkings of those around them, and to make them consider their governments values differently - exactly what Julian Assange and the Wikileaks organisation is trying to do. This aim is evident in the Collateral Murder video. I enjoyed how you have raised the idea that civic activism is nothing new, but as technologies have improved we have adapted our methods of activism into those of hacking. I wonder what our activism methods will be in 50 years?
ReplyDeletei agree with you when you say that the 'concepts of hacking, hacktivism and civic hacking are not necessarily new, they have just been adapted into a new form.' With the emergence of web 2.0 and the consequential rush of media convergence to the internet, it is obvious that individuals with hacking skills were not quickly going to be forgetting the skills they have and leaving the internet as a 'utopian place'. I think that it was bound to happen, as networked communications moved online for web 2.0, activism followed in its new form of hacktivism.
ReplyDeleteWe must remember that hacking is an extremely essential tool for organisations to contemplate their futures if hackivists attempt to break into their systems. They run hacking competitions like Pwn2Own (where contestants attempt to hack a specific system to take home a prize pool and the product) to test the efficiency of the system restrictions. Without these 'ethical hackers' testing the hardware and software, as soon as it become available to the public, their system could be infiltrated within a matter of hours.
I think the rebellious wikileaks is a complex combination of activism and citizen journalism (unless the writers have degrees, which i somehow doubt), the ironic thing is that not even they are free from the threat of cybercrime and hacktivists. Great post
Again I agree that hacking is nothing new. It just takes on new forms as we move forward with technology.
ReplyDeleteI also don't necessarily think that hacking is such a bad thing. Yes it is if they are hacking into your computer to steal information for credit card fraud or identity theft but with the example of Wikileaks, I don't think its necessarily wrong and as you have mentioned only real benefit of hacking and since they are going about it the right way.
If Governments and other organisations had no secrecy and shared the information there would be no need for Wikileaks or any other organisation to reveal these damaging truths.
"To me the concepts of hacking, hacktivism and civic hacking are not necessarily new, they have just been adapted into a new form."
ReplyDeleteAre hackers modern day hippies? I considered that as the title for my blog. My understanding of hippies is that they were a culture going against the norm, going against the Governments and Corporations, "telling them how to lie their lives". To me this sounds like a modern day hacker. Instead of rebelling by sitting in a field getting high, they sit in front of a computer, finding information they're not meant to have, drinking energy drinks.
Love the modern day hippy analogy, CJAff!! I'm with you though Elise and all of you above commenters. Hacking definitely does have an evil aspect to it, however, the more information that is shared by hackers on WikiLeaks, the less I trust our Governments and the more I side with hackers! The digital age has transformed our political climate, and hackers are simply trying to make these politicians and corporations honest and transparent. I don't think theres anyone who can argue that this is a bad thing. Great post AJobst.
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