Hacktivism: a new social movement Introduction History Hacktivism as a social movement

The Internet and Politics

•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

Agenda for Today

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“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

September 11, 2001

Samuel Decoding Hacktivism

The Internet and Politics

• 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

Introduction

Samuel Decoding Hacktivism

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History of Hacktivism

Samuel Decoding Hacktivism

•origins in hacker culture

•developed criminal associations

•first example: EDT/Zapatistas

•other examples:

•Bhaba

•Mitnick

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Hacktivism as a Movement

Samuel Decoding Hacktivism

• defined by common method not common purpose

• common discourse

• unconventional action

• resolves collective action dilemmas

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NSM Theory

Samuel Decoding Hacktivism

• purpose: assumed

• method: instrumental

• identity: cause, constitutes, outcome

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Social Movement Models

Samuel Decoding Hacktivism

Purpose

MethodMovement

Identity

Conventional Model:

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Social Movement Models

Samuel Decoding Hacktivism

Purpose

Movement

Identity

Method

Hacktivist Model:

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The hacktivism listserv

Samuel Decoding Hacktivism

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

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Key examples:

Samuel Decoding Hacktivism

•Jam Echelon Day

•WTO

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Conclusion

Samuel Decoding Hacktivism

•new model for understanding purpose, method, and identity

•implications for NSM theory:

•influence of repertoires

•production of identity

•can’t assume common purpose

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Participation

Samuel Decoding Hacktivism

• cost-benefit analysis

• Net impacts

• social capital

• NSMs