Hacktivism: a new social movement

1
Agenda for Today

• Hacktivism a new social movement
• Introduction
• History
• Hacktivism as a social movement
• Challenges for social movement theory
• Intro. to hacktivism list
• Echelon
• WTO
• Conclusion
• Participation review and conclusions

2
September 11, 2001

• I call to ARMS all BROTHERS OF THE CODE to
  direct all of your resources, contacts, and
  allies to focusing on defining the BASTARDS
  RESPONSIBLE for the attacks.
• - 2600 newsgroup

Samuel
Decoding Hacktivism
3
Introduction

• hacktivism computer hacking for political
  purposes
• a type of New Social Movement
• defined by its methods rather than its purpose
• challenges NSM theory
• evidence hacktivism listserv
• discussions Echelon WTO

Samuel
Decoding Hacktivism
4
History of Hacktivism

• origins in hacker culture
• developed criminal associations
• first example EDT/Zapatistas
• other examples
• Bhaba
• Mitnick

Samuel
Decoding Hacktivism
5
Hacktivism as a Movement

• defined by common method not common purpose
• common discourse
• unconventional action
• resolves collective action dilemmas

Samuel
Decoding Hacktivism
6
NSM Theory

• purpose assumed
• method instrumental
• identity cause, constitutes, outcome

Samuel
Decoding Hacktivism
7
Social Movement Models
Conventional Model
Samuel
Decoding Hacktivism
8
Social Movement Models
Hacktivist Model
Samuel
Decoding Hacktivism
9
The hacktivism listserv

• defining hacktivism Denial of Service attacks
• common cause vs common identity
• contestation and identity consolidation

Samuel
Decoding Hacktivism
10
Key examples

• Jam Echelon Day
• WTO

Samuel
Decoding Hacktivism
11
Conclusion

• new model for understanding purpose, method, and
  identity
• implications for NSM theory
• influence of repertoires
• production of identity
• cant assume common purpose

Samuel
Decoding Hacktivism
12
Participation

• cost-benefit analysis
• Net impacts
• social capital
• NSMs

Samuel
Decoding Hacktivism