- Begin original message --
> From: Askwith Robert <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: Fri, 15 Dec 2000 15:05:42 -0000
> Subject: Re: Stop me and search one
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Reply-To: Askwith Robert <[log in to unmask]>
>
> Nicholas Hubble wrote:
> >To this end, 'hackers' should not be performing a public
> >service by testing the security of systems, they should be performing a
> >public service by placing all and any material in the public domain.
>
> But that wouldn't be hacking, thus hackers would never consider it... least
> of all at someone elses suggestion <gasp> :-)
>
> Having said that we do appear to be seeing politically motivated people
> getting tooled up as hackers (rather that vice versa), e.g. israel/palestine
> infowar.
I take your point that hackers, by definition, do not do what I suggest -
however there is a shortage of suitable terminology to convey meaning in this
field. However, I fail to see what's wrong with doing things at someone else's
suggestion. The point about suggestions is that you are free to choose whether
to act on them or not and, therefore, acting on a suggestion is hardly a
compromise of integrity.
Besides I was 'suggesting' in an academic sort of way. The question for me - and
presumably for some others on this list - is what strategies do we adopt to
confront the increasing use of technically advanced surveillance technology by
the state for imposing state aims?(and also how surveillance has been/is
mediated within 'culture' and human 'subjectivity' - something we might also
want to confront). Clearly, an important part of this is theorising and
describing what is going on. However, one also has to discuss practical
strategies. Upping the ante on surveillance by advocating the availability of
absolutely everything in the public domain seems to me a more effective way of
confronting the state than trying to utilise some notion of rights to privacy.
This is only political in the wider sense of politics. It is a strategy designed
to protect the possibility of free exchange - to allow the possibility of
politics in other words. If we do nothing, then that possibility will disappear.
Nick Hubble,
[log in to unmask]
GRC Humanities, Arts B, University of Sussex
01273 606755 x2139
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