Philip Oliver Roibas Sharkey
ENG – J010 Michael D. Benton
Computer Hacking and Hacktivism in Contemporary Society
The noun hacker is an ambiguous term which covers a long range of definitions. For the purpose of this essay we will be examining the illegal hacking of secure computing programs for information. We will be doing so, to try to observe whether or not its use has been detrimental to society, or if it has led to progress; my personal belief is the latter.
Today the world of computer hacking is larger than it has ever been, which is why it is so difficult to make generalizations in your opinion of it. No one who understands the full utility of hacking could possess an entirely negative or positive view on the matter. It has lead to some of the greatest advancements in technology and the social questions of our age, including the internet and the question of at which point hacking transcends our universally negative views of stealing and becomes a question of freedom. Personally I’m against hackings use as a means of personal economic improvement, but I can respect one’s desire to understand the world around them from the perspective secret government and corporate information provides.
Until stolen information was recently released by Wikileaks, involving the extent to which some Iraqi captives were tortured, many Americans believed that no torturous activities were practiced on these individuals other than water boarding. “At the torturer's whim, the logs reveal, the victim can be hung by his wrists or by his ankles; knotted up in stress positions; sexually molested or raped; tormented with hot peppers, cigarettes, acid, pliers or boiling water – and always with little fear of retribution since, far more often than not, if the Iraqi official is assaulting an Iraqi civilian, no further investigation will be required.” (Davies) Obviously, water boarding (as shocking as it may be to some Americans) is only the tip of the iceberg.
What is it about this information specifically, that could potentially lead to the endangerment of American troops operating in the Middle East? In my opinion, it cannot. That is not to say that an organization like Wikileaks does not have the potential to release information that could negatively affect the war on terror only that not all of it already has. Living in a ‘free’ country should give us the privilege to view this information without it being stolen from the government, only the government refuses to release it on their own terms.
In today’s political climate we must ask ourselves, if granting the government the power to hide so much information from the public is in the country’s best interests. There are undoubtedly copious amounts of information that should be kept secret, for the safety of America and her interests, but perhaps it should not be entirely up to a government to decide what should and should not be kept hidden. Although, that would lead us to questioning who should have the power to decide what the public should have access to, if not the government.
These questions will certainly lead to the progress of our nation, regardless of how we answer them. Much as hacking led to technological advancements in the decades after it’s inception, it is now shaping our social and political beliefs. It is allowing us to question what we believe ethically and is helping lead us down the path of globalization, the ultimate form of advancement. In conclusion, although computer hacking can be utilized for negative purposes, I believe that it will ultimately only lead to the betterment of not only our country but humanity itself.
Works Cited
Davies, Nick. "Iraq War Logs: Secret Order That Let US Ignore Abuse | World News |
Guardian.co.uk." Editorial. Latest News, Comment and Reviews from the Guardian |
Guardian.co.uk. 22 Oct. 2010. Web. 21 Aug. 2011.
<http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/oct/22/iraq-detainee-abuse-torture-
saddam>.
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