"Hacktivism"

[Gary Childress]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrAxn5xdh6c

I've seen some debate going around about what is called "hactivism". What do others think of "hactivism"? Is it the same as protesting injustice or civil disobedience toward unjust authority?

It seems to me that doing something anonymously behind a keyboard is not the same thing as physically showing your face at a protest and taking full responsibility for your actions. I think there's too much temptation in such a scenario to go too far and simply devolve into mischief. On the other hand, as some point out in the linked video, for companies to discover their vulnerabilities by being hacked by a mischievous hacker acting alone is maybe better than being hacked by some of the more malicious governments out there (the real pros) and it at least makes them aware of vulnerabilities. But of course, that in itself is not a justification for hacking in general, especially if the hacker uses the information for nefarious purposes.

[Gary Childress]

Here's a better video on the topic. I had a hard time finding it again but this originally set me to thinking about the nature of "Hactivism".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yth2Iih-P14

[stacie]

I know people who fancy themselves hacktivists.

They are a total waste of space - and their technical know-how does not seem to go beyond using TOR to anonymously send insults to "TERFS", "fascists", etc.