HacktivismSocial InformaticsChris Mahon 3037266

Introduction

Hacking + Activism = HacktivismUse of computer or internet

networks to express an opinion of protest

Aims to bring about change

Examples:Hacking (or Cracking)DDoS

Methodology

Literature ReviewQualitative Research

Analysing motivations of those parties involved in Hacktivism cases

Framework

Social Construction of Technology (SCOT)

Examples

Hackers vs. Steven Conroy◦Proposal of Internet Filter back in

2008◦Hoped to gain media attention to

protest censorship“Leto” on SBS Insight

◦No real hacking ability, but empowered people with free-flow of information via social media

Findings

Rights & Free SpeechDifficulty of Policing the InternetMotivations of Hacktivists

References Shorter, C. (2000), “Understanding Activism: A holistic look at activism, and

activist techniques”, Cameron Shorter.net, viewed online 8/11/2011 <http://cameron.shorter.net/writings/activism.html>

“Definition of white hat hacker” (n.d.), PC Magazine, viewed online 8/11/2011 <http://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia_term/0,2542,t=white+hat+hacker

> SearchSecurity.com (2001), “What is black hat?”, TechTarget, viewed online

8/11/2011 <http://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/definition/black-hat > “What is qualitative research?” (n.d.), QSR International, DTDigital, viewed

online 8/11/2011 <http://www.qsrinternational.com/what-is-qualitative-research.aspx>

Moses, A. (2009), “Internet Censorship plan gets the green light”, The Sunday Morning Herald, viewed online 8/11/2011 <http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/internet-censorship-plan-gets-the-green-light-20091215-ktzc.html>

Whyte, S. (2011) “Meet the hacktivist who tried to take down the government”, The Sydney Morning Herald, viewed online 9/11/2011 <http://www.smh.com.au/technology/security/meet-the-hacktivist-who-tried-to-take-down-the-government-20110314-1btkt.html>

“Hacktivism” (2011), Insight, Television transcript, first aired on SBS on 27/9/2011, retrieved online 9/11/2011 <http://www.sbs.com.au/insight/episode/index/id/431/Hacktivism#transcript>