DEF CON: Hackers, the Military, and a Jello Shot Showdown
This year's DEF CON, the world's largest hacker conference, showcased a stark contradiction: close collaboration with the US military and intelligence agencies alongside sharp criticism of US military actions. Former NSA director Paul Nakasone's presence, alongside founder Jeff Moss, culminated in a dramatic ejection of hacktivist Jeremy Hammond, who shouted “Free Palestine!” and condemned Nakasone as a war criminal. This incident highlighted DEF CON's complex relationship with the military, featuring military-sponsored events and competitions alongside presentations exposing US war crimes (like Micah Lee's exposé on Signalgate and the Yemen bombing) and security vulnerabilities. The event underscored the ongoing tension between the countercultural hacker ethos and the increasingly close ties between the hacking community and the US military-industrial complex.
Read more