Political hacktivism involves using computer hacking for political activism and protest. It emerged as a way for grassroots political groups to have their voices heard. Hacktivists believe the public has a right to information about what political leaders actually stand for and what wrongs the government has committed. Examples of hacktivism include creating protest websites, cyber squatting on domain names, defacing websites, denial of service attacks, and site redirection. While hacktivism has the potential to promote positive social change, some of its illegal actions may restrict freedom and overstep ethical boundaries. For hacktivism to have bigger impacts, it is most effective when combined with on-the-ground political activism and protest.

1. Political Hacktivism
Eva Sánchez and Virginia Chan

2. Introduction
•
Influence of internet
o
•
o
Politicians using internet as a new platform to
gain more supporters
o
•
Increased access to information
Global connectivity
o
publicize campaign
“levels playing field”
Public opinion plays a more important role in
elections and political campaigning

3. Political Hacktivism
•
Jordan and Taylor: “The emergence of popular political
action, of the self-activity of groups of people, in cyberspace.”
○ “A grassroots political protest with computer hacking”
● A merge between political activism and computer hacking
● Hacktivists are motivated by the notion that the people have
a right to information. In terms of politics, this means the
public has the right to know exactly what goes on behind the
scenes, what political leaders actually stand for, and what
wrongs/rights the government has committed.

4. Examples
● Protest sites and spoof Web sites
○
○
Covers a multiplicity of subjects
Presentation of content ranges from professional
to amateur
● Cyber-squatting
○
○
“Registering a domain name with intent to profit
from the onward sale to its (rightful) owner”
(214)
Successful if search engines can find it

5. Examples
● E-graffiti
○
Defacement of Web sites
● Denial of Service Attacks -- virtual sit-ins
○
Overloading the site with visits

6. Examples
● Site Redirection/ Virtual Road Blocks
○
Directing users away from official site without
owner’s knowledge
● Flashmobs
○
○
○
When a huge group of people meet at a specific
time and place to perform a task
Secrecy from police, press, and timing are
essential
Invitations are informal and done over the
internet via emails, blogs, instant messaging,

7. USEFUL PURPOSES AND DIRTY
POLITICS
•
•
Does the goals always justify the means?
o
PROS
“Hacktivism has the potential to play an active and constructive role to
overcome political justice, educate, inform and be a genuine agent of
positive political and social change. The marriage of hacktivism to
participatory democracy leads to the empowerment of individuals or
participatory democracy, the breakdown of barriers or participatory
pluralism and disintermediation of channels of communication or direct
democracy”
Abbey Goodrum

8. o
CONS
 Restrict freedom
 “Roadblocking”
or
buildings” on the net
 Illegal actions
“picketing

9. Anonymous
• Suddenly emerged in 2008
•
At the beginning it was composed of professionals
→ Now anyone can participate

10. Anonymous
• GOALS: end with the oppression from governments and
other organizations on the Internet
o “We want to fight the powers-that-be when they overstep the lines.”
•
Conciousness
o "I'm not under the illusion that we're going to change the world,but if
we can make a big enough noise for people to notice there's a
problem and scream loud enough, someone's going to take notice.
That's what Anonymous is."
Scottish Activist

11. Conclusions
•
Success of hacktivism:
1. How much nuisance was caused?
2. How widely was it covered?
3. Did anything change as a result?
•
Bigger impacts when hacktivism is accompanied
by activism

12. Bibliography
- Auty, C. (2004). Political hacktivism: tool of the underdog or scourge of
cyberspace? In: Aslib Proceedings. Emerald Group Publishing Limited, 212221
- Anonymous, hacktivism and the rise of cyber protester
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-20446048
- E Siapera 2012 Chapter 5 Understanding New Media. Sage.
-Jordan, Tim, and Paul A. Taylor. "Hacking and Hackitivism." Hacktivism and
Cyberwars: Rebels with a Cause? London: Routledge, 2004. 1-18. Print.
-Ludlow, Peter. "WikiLeaks and Hacktivist Culture | The Nation." WikiLeaks
and Hacktivist Culture. The Nation, 4 Oct. 2010. Web. 21 Oct. 2013.
<http://www.thenation.com/article/154780/wikileaks-and-hacktivistculture>.