Hacking Beyond Boundaries: Exploring the World of Digital Disruptors

Session Submission Type: Pre-arranged Panel

Abstract

This panel delves into the multifaceted realm of hackers, addressing critical dimensions including sexism, typologies, hacktivism, turning points, and qualitative insights. By bringing together diverse perspectives and expertise, this panel will dissect the various typologies of hackers, examining the motivations, tactics, and ethical considerations that shape their activities in cyberspace. We will discuss the different hacker typologies, as well as compare hacker activists, or hacktivists, to their non-hacktivist counterparts. Additionally, we will discuss pivotal moments that could reshape the hacker landscape, whether through technological advancements, legal crackdowns, or ideological shifts. Further, this panel will examine the complex interplay of sexism and gender dynamics in the hacker community. Finally, qualitative interviews with hackers will provide firsthand accounts and nuanced perspectives on their lived experiences, shedding light on the complexities of hacker culture, identity, and community dynamics. By synthesizing these diverse topics and perspectives, this panel aims to deepen our understanding of hackers and their evolving roles in the digital age, while also fostering critical discourse on the ethical, social, and political implications of hacking practices.

Subtopic

• Topic 2: Types of Offending / Cybercrime (Cybercrime WG)

Chair

• Katelyn Smith, University of South Florida

Individual Presentations

• Hacking with purpose: A comparative analysis of hacktivists and non-hacktivists - Katelyn Smith, University of South Florida; Roan Ali, University of South Florida

• Turning points in cybercrime: Exploring desistance in the hacking community? - Christian Jordan Howell, University of South Florida; Kaylee Eckelman, University of South Florida; Mubashshira Haque Rithee, University of South Florida

• Unveiling Gender Biases: A Comprehensive Exploration of Sexism in the Hacker Community - Roberta Liggett-O'Malley, University of South Florida-Sarasota; Katelyn Smith, University of South Florida; Aida Ozuni, University of South Florida