I want to talk about something that some people may find offensive, and that I can’t talk about on Twitter to not get shadow banned as I have to rely on reach for my work. The first time I attended Chaos Computer Congress was over 15 years ago. It had the best parties in town, and we would sneak in for the nightlife. As I rekindled my interest in politics, computers and the internet, I became more aligned with the CCC’s mission: hacking the planet to hold power to account. While I was already disappointed with some of the CCC’s policies – particularly on things like COVID and Bitcoin – this year was the first time that I seriously lost hope for and trust in the CCC as an institution – starting with its opening speech. The CCC’s opening speech sets the theme for the event. This year, it was dedicated to the global rise of fascism. Speakers talked about Germany’s protests against the far-right AFD, about Donald Trump, LGBTQ and abortions, and pro-democracy protests in countries like Georgia. But not a single word was lost to the genocide in Palestine. Checking the CCC’s schedule, I merely found a single talk on Palestine, which explicitly made clear that it did not take a stance on whether Israel was right or wrong in its operations. There were still a lot of great talks at the congress, and many assemblies showed their solidarity, but this complete lack of mention is what really stood out for me. To understand what a hackers congress has to do with genocide, we need to take an uncomfortable look at Nazi Germany. What enabled the Holocaust 80 years ago was not just a bunch of bloodthirsty eugenicist maniacs high on ungodly amounts of speed and their fascist ideologies. It was the streamlining of exploitation and murder to never before seen efficiency, with the help of new, more efficient technologies. It is these same advancements in technology that are fueling the genocide in Palestine today. It’s surveillance on an unprecedented scale, evermore invasive spyware, AI enabled targeting and automated drone warfare. You can think of Palestine what you want, but this technology is being exported from Palestine to the rest of the world today. It’s facial recognition systems and license plate scanners that Israel uses to enforce apartheid that you’ll soon see scanning your biometrics for your next flight on holidays, or your car on your next trip to work. It’s spyware companies that test their products to soon sell them to governments around the world targeting activists, journalists and opposition. It’s psychological warfare utilizing dating sites like Grindr to social engineer Palestinians into spying on their peers and extort their sexual preferences. Just last month, the a16z portfolio company Skydio, which is a major Israeli military contractor, was caught providing its surveillance drones to Yale University to monitor and track student protestors. Some of you may find this topic uncomfortable as it may not align with your political views. But the reality remains that the genocide in Palestine is a testing ground for never before seen surveillance tech that will soon be used on you. And the world’s most renowned hackers are silent.

Replies (97)

Zaikaboy's avatar
Zaikaboy 11 months ago
All wars "progress" technology. So we die testing it then we die under it's rule. Time to opt out
The Western world is fucked up with regards to Palestine and Germany is twice as bad as the rest (well except the US). I'm from The Netherlands and a large percentage of the people here think it is a genocide but most of our politicians are silent.
A huge part of why I got into cybersecurity to start with was because of Anonymous. I was just getting into the workforce when they were going strong and wreaking havoc among the elites. I loved the spirit of their actions, which was to hold power to account. It’s not a surprise that three letter agencies cracked down HARD on that activity and essentially neutered the real hacker culture. The one where authority wasn’t legitimate and freedom and privacy were paramount.
rapadu's avatar
rapadu 11 months ago
Thanks for your post! This is SO true! I was a long standing supporter of the CCC, gave 2 talks some years ago on the history of surveillance in the romantic period comparing it with today’s on a cultural level. Used to listened for years to some of their flagship people’s podcasts until they started to turn away from Bitcoin (after they were one of the firsts to use it - I saw on-chain payments first at C3 in 2012; we could buy our drinks there with Bitcoin - those were the fun days) I then became completely disillusioned with them on their stance on the Gaza genocide. I didn’t attend congress this year. I am so utterly disappointed with that community.
R's avatar
R 11 months ago
All institutions exist to grow themselves. Almost impossible for institutions to grow in size and stay outsiders. Wiser to find the new small groups and move on than change the old.
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npub13hgv...hjry 11 months ago
You bring up several interesting points about the misuse of surveillance technologies, but you are incorrect to label Israel’s response to Hamas’s attacks as a genocide. This is a war. That may be uncomfortable for you to hear, given what you may have read or heard. The truth of this war is explain by this simple meme. I am open to have a discussion with you in DM. View quoted note →
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npub1ah3a...l76e 11 months ago
If you are open to challenge your beliefs, be open to change your opinion on the holocaust as well. Things are almost never as they seem or as the winners tell their his-story. Which doesn't mean war is not the most inhumane way of communication with lots of people excercising "freedom of violance" in mass-traumatic ways. Plenty of good resources that are criminalised by various states regarding "the" holocaust.
I wish I were smart enough to be a stellar hacker and a coder. I would use that superpower for good. I hack life differently with love, art, music, consciousness yet I deeply value and respect those who can do it with computers. All types of hackers are needed. Blessings to each of you hacking the future.
Rio's avatar
Rio 11 months ago
the holocaust never happen. It's another big lie exactly like they are covering up the existing genocide in Gaza to protect Israel and Jewish supremacist.
You make a good point. I'm not familiar with the CCC, but In general the moment any movement organizes is the moment it begins to degrade. Retreat to the principles behind it.
I fully understand why people are starting to believe this, as such a belief system seems more parsimonious with all that we know today about what most of the Jewish people are doing to the Palestinians, and by how many lies and how much propaganda comes out of Israel. But I believe the holocaust did happen because there is too much data about it (ask your eldest relatives what they think and why). It is actually more parismonious than it seems. The abused becomes the abuser.
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npub1ah3a...l76e 11 months ago
It's a rabbit hole. Lies upon lies upon lies. I am not talking about outrageous war crimes and concentration camps/ work camps like in all European states at that time. Most of that happened. Talking exclusively and only about gas chambers.
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npub1ah3a...l76e 11 months ago
Most elders have been brainwashed/gaslight into anything. I wouldn't consider asking random elders about Covid era a solid approach.
I don't hold strong detailed beliefs about things I didn't witness, but I suspect there were gas chambers based on historical evidence. Nonetheless I'm not going to argue nor am I inclined to be defending the Jews at this point in time.
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npub16uqh...v8yd 11 months ago
from the guy who calls everyone he doesn’t like a liar without being able to name 1 lie.
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npub1x8dg...qjr3 11 months ago
I was already considered a nazi during COVID. And at that time I had nothing against Israel. Nowadays I think all governments suck!
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Deleted Account 11 months ago
100% I loosely followed and watched CCC talks over the last 8 years. You are definitely on point, since COVID-19 a noticeable change in topics and arguments has arrived. Maybe some of you have heard of “Ken Jebsen”, the was THE indy journalist an new media face in Germany from 2012-2022. “Anonymous” and therefore probably CCC people hacked and destroyed his website/career because they didn’t like his reach and point of view on COVID-19. Also a high likelihood of deepstate involvement in my view. I think CCC and especially Anonymous scared the deepstate after the GFC and the occupy wall st culture, that was a turning point. From that point on all “left” leaning and anti establishment organizations got covertly attacked and corrupted
sedited's avatar
sedited 11 months ago
I felt like it mostly reflected the sentiment in Germany, it just doesn't seem to be that disturbing to many people there. I was surprised though that even in the anarchist assemblies it was not the all encompassing topic (and it wasn't one last year either). What I did notice and mention to others too was there were few talks on spyware, rootkits, etc. this year compared to last. Maybe too much was shared on this topic already and people have kind of given up? I felt like the talks (and people) were more focused on the general enshitification than the we kill based on metadata side of things.
El aumento global del fascismo es un BULO 🤦, hablar de ultraderecha es una trampa oral; utilizan esos términos para cancelar a las personas con pensamiento crítico. 🤦 todos los temas muy globalistas. SI yo tuviera el súper poder de un hacker, lo utilizaría para compartir la VERDAD de lo que hacen en el Mundo el Globalismo y el #NOM Gracias por sus palabras 🫂
Hey Lola, I appreciate that I took the time to read your note and that it realigned my point of view of the advancement of privacy invading technology 💜
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Rand 11 months ago
surveillance & control r picking uP speed
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npub1p6lm...28uy 11 months ago
I mean nothing this year about Wikileaks either. It's soft political and tacit state now, there was a talk about how the German prosecutor needs more centralized power and people stood up to applaud. But can you explain how you characterize the incursion into Gaza as a genocide?
I used to be a huge fan of CCC and would consider myself part of the hacking community back in the day but both have lost its ways long time ago. it became completely overtaken by the woke agenda, communists and social justice warriors. For a bunch of people that used to be the most counter culture and fuck the government crowd it sure turned out to be a communist commune for the confused people in need of therapy
Delta Kid's avatar
Delta Kid 11 months ago
As you say, given the centrality of technology – especially military surveillance technology, which was so central to previous Congresses (three of which I spoke at) – the effective silence and quiescence of the CCC in the face of the Gaza genocide - the world’s first AI genocide - has made them completely irrelevant to the most urgent tech issues of the day. This is both sad and ironic.
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unknown 11 months ago
Thank you @L0la33tz. Apart from being absolutely right. The people who zapped this is a great list to follow. You know they’re normal people who think genocide is a bad thing.
100% agreed. And what about WikiLeaks? You would think that a hacker congress would celebrate the fact that the Assange was finally released in some way or the other. The only talk this year even mentioning WL was about an art piece about Julian Assange. Don't get me wrong, art is cool, but are you fucking kidding us? CCC organizing people are a bunch of cowards. They enjoy their positions of power and political influence and relenave so much that they'd rather not stir the pot.
Vikingarna1990's avatar
Vikingarna1990 11 months ago
Incorrect. Zionism and Nazism are polar opposites. Zionism is based on internationalism and Marxism. National "socialism" was nationalistic. Nazism was anti-Jew, anti-Marxist and anti-internationalist. The first signatory to the creation of the State of Israel was certified Jew-lover and psychopathic Marxist parasite Joe Stalin. Steadfast Marxist, fixed internationalist and confirmed Jew-lover Harry Truman signed on to partition Palestine as well. Israel is an international parasitical state. Israel is the complete opposite of the national "socialist" state.
They've long been absorved by the machine. It has been that way since the protests on Wall Street against the bankers. Now all those groups are entertained with 1500 different social causes related to gender, being legally recognized as ponnies or whatever random things keeps them busy and "fighting" rather than looking at what really matters in the end. In my opinion we should indeed take notice, and at the same time organize those few of us left to keep building useful tech, events and things that move the needle on the right direction.
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npub18y94...f273 11 months ago
TL;DR: woke is a psyop to suppress narratives that go against the regime.
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npub1juus...kpd4 11 months ago
It's unbelievable to me that people otherwise pretending to be defenders of Liberty and human rights, in addition to being Bitcoiners, have a massive blind spot when it comes to Israel. It's the systematic conditioning to believe that Isreal is a "just" nation and all Palestinians are some form of terrorists, therefore any oppression of Palestinians is justified and needed. Nothing has turned me off more than seeing some very intelligent people I had been following for years fall into this trap. Thank you for raising this.
don’t think I understand exactly what neoliberalism is, but it spurred me to go get some Hayek memes so thanks for that
Vikingarna1990's avatar
Vikingarna1990 11 months ago
Bad comparison. The correct analogy is with Judeo-Bolshevism 1.0. "The streamlining of exploitation and murder to never before seen efficiency" was implemented under Judeo-Bolshevism 1.0. All the significant ideas underlying that parasitical endeavor came from the Jew, and the similarities between what's happening in Palestine now and what occured during Judeo-Bolshevism 1.0 are uncanny. Of course, the Jew and its lovers and partners want the same thing on an international scope, so we're looking at the distinct possiblity of soon experiencing Judeo-Bolshevism 2.0 AKA psychopathic totalitarianism AKA psychopathic parasitism. Palestine is the testing ground for many of the fresh methods for subjugation and oppression that will be applied. Once again, we see Jews, internationalists and Marxists hand in hand perpetrating international parasitism on a grand scale. Jew-lover Stalin put Jews in charge of creating and operating the Gulag system, and he filled his security apparatus with Jews. Life-long friend and compatriot Kaganovich remained by Stalin's side all his life. Together, they initiated the forced collectivization of the USSR, and the Soviet famine of 1930-1933 was a fact. The Great Purge of 1937 found Israel Leplevsky slaughtering tens of thousands of Ukranians. Head of the NKVD from 1936, Yeshin, had a Jewish wife and a Jewish boyfriend. Even prior to Stalin's rise, the Jew was prominent in managing the "revolution." Trotsky, the inventor of the Red Army, comes to mind. Trotsky's "war communism" played a significant part in the starvation of '21. Hungarian Jew Bela Kun, along with his Jewish wife, was responsible for the slaughter of tens of thousands of surrendered White Army prisoners in the Crimea in 1920. Jew Yakov Sverdlov was one the first to recommend and commence decossackization. Jew Sverdlov, Jew Trotsky, Jew Kaganovich, Jew Zinoviev, Polish Jew Felix Dzerzhinsky and Stalin agreed on the necessity to exterminate the Kulaks. Dekulakization was subsequently launched. The Holodomor was the highest point of psychopathic parasitism of this long-running endeavor. Jew Felix Dzerzhinsky was one of the originators of the Cheka apparatus, later renamed to the GPU/OGPU, then to the NKVD. Jew Genrikh Yagoda took over the reins of the GPU/NKVD from ca. 1925, and his rein lasted until 1936. The GPU/NKVD had the management and day-to-day operation of the Gulag system as one of their areas of expertise. The connection between Marxism, internationalism and Zionism is strong. The common denominator is the parasitical Jewish brain. Moses Hess, the first communist and personal friend of Karl Marx, was a virulent Zionist. Zionism and Nazism are polar opposites. Zionism is based on internationalism and Marxism. National "socialism" was nationalistic. Nazism was inherently anti-Jew, anti-Marxist and anti-internationalist. The first signatory to the creation of the State of Israel was certified Jew-lover and psychopathic Marxist parasite Joe Stalin. Steadfast Marxist, fixed internationalist and confirmed Jew-lover Harry Truman signed on to partition Palestine as well. Stalin and the Russian plebs armed the early Jewish terror groups. Later, American presidents, the US Congress and the American plebs armed and financed the Jewish terror. The first act of the United Nations was the ethnic cleansing of Eastern Europe of 12 million Germans. The next act of the United Nations was perpetrating the Nakba and giving Palestine to the Jew. Israel is an international parasitical state. Israel is sustained by Marxist states and protected through internationalist institutions. Israel is the complete opposite of the national "socialist" state. The National "socialists" were interested in self-suffiency. The survival of Israel presupposes international parasitism. The HoloCash story is equally as unbelievable as the story of the 40 beheaded babies. The Jew lies. The Jew lies prodigiously.
That's what Nostr is for. Shadows cannot be banned. What's the world coming to? In the face of genocide, the mainstream media around the world have chosen unspoken silence and disregard. This invisible shadow surveillance pressure makes everyone and businesses fear an unreal shadow censorship right. No one can say why they dare not express their support for Palestine and protest against the extermination of the living Palestinian people. We know that if this happened to people near us, we would be in great pain and anger. We need Nostr, private, decentralized, uncontrolled agents. This is also jack's deep reflection on the single point obstacle.
"But the reality remains that the genocide in Palestine is a testing ground for never before seen surveillance tech that will soon be used on you. And the world’s most renowned hackers are silent. "` View quoted note →
G1l BRB054.M's avatar
G1l BRB054.M 11 months ago
Mi mi mi ! 😂😓 Palestina NEVER EXISTED. Fuck all fuckers TERRORISTS . 🔪💀🔥🔥 THAT PEOPLE ARE FROM ARAB COUNTRIES THAT PROTECTS ( Hamás,ISIS,Hezbolah, then all fuckers terrorists are from the ARAB COUNTRIES,so THERE IS NO FUCKING Palestina. This SHIT called Palestina was created by the DICTATOR ASSASSIN PUBLIO ELIO ADRIANO( Publius Aelius Hadrianus). AM YISHRA’EL CHAI 💪🏾🇮🇱🇮🇱 Beyachad Nenatzeach 🙏🍷⚡️
Thank you for the great post. Imagine if the banks that comprise the federal reserve were owned and run by Chinese or Italians, bitcoiners wouldn't hesitate to notice. Imagine if Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell were Swedish or Mexican, noone would hesitate to notice and investigate if there was a connection to their home country's intelligence agencies.
The surveillance tech is terrifying. As you mention, we have examples of this from the Holocaust. A major technological contributor was the tabulating machines made by IBM to conduct the census at an unprecedented level of efficiency and scale. They were able to identify Jews and other ethnic groups and even comb through ancestry for the entire country's population. It is said that each concentration camp had a department with these devices which they used to keep tabs on inmates There's a great book on this called "IBM and the Holocaust".
The underlying politics matter less than the actions which are justified by them. Expansionism, Racism, Genocide, Murder. Psychopathy. We've seen this before, even if the playbook use to effect it were marginally different.
OpnState's avatar
OpnState 11 months ago
Thank you for observing this with your audience. Kamala was pro Israel, Trump is pro Israel, RFK Jr is pro Israel. Same goes for other US officials. I truly wish we knew what sort of hold/blackmail Zionists have on global media and politics. I've heard everything from theories that Israel has micro nuclear bombs at its embassies around the world, holding countries hostage, to temple of Solomon religious prophesies. You know who your master is by identifying who you cannot criticize openly.
OpnState's avatar
OpnState 11 months ago
Any group with power will corrupt if it is centralized. I think it's an organic function you see, functioning individuals have to work to live and have little time to devote to furthering a cause, while parasites have all the time in the world to protest and push agendas. In time, the parasites overtakes any group.
You carrying water for the suits with this take. War and genocide are not mutually exclusive. Genocides are often committed in the context of war. Israel has repeatedly expressed genocidal intent, and indigenous resistance fighters have been fighting an illegal occupation since 1948.
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npub13hgv...hjry 11 months ago
Okay, let’s unpack this for moment because I want to be clear about some of the words you are using. And, please, if we’re going to have a discussion, limit your insults, or it’s not worth my time. First, could you provide me with a couple examples of “genocidal intent” which you say are done “repeatedly”? Second, with regards to your use of the word “indigenous,” is it your assertion that Jews were not indigenous to this area before 1948? That’s a really strange claim considering, um, the well documented and recorded history of the region (as well as the archeological record). Third, I’m curious about your understanding of the word “occupation” given that Israel completely pulled its residents out of Gaza and handed it over in 2005.
Francesca Albanese has done a great job documenting the genocidal intent expressed by israelis in section 5, page 12 of her report, anatomy of a genocide. https://www.un.org/unispal/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/a-hrc-55-73-auv.pdf And you’re not wrong about jews always having lived there. That is different than creating a european liberal democracy “jewish state” for a bunch of european settlers to displace the local population, which is what israel is. Remember that Palestine was not the only place they were looking at to create this state. And occupation means exactly that. The Europeans displaced Palestinians from their homes in 1948, and have not left since. Here’s a great book on this topic you should check out for understanding.
BTCrevolutionary's avatar
BTCrevolutionary 11 months ago
Israel is a terrorist state that is unaccountable to anyone right now. It’s crazy that this tiny country gets to act with impunity.
OpnState's avatar
OpnState 11 months ago
Not saying I subscribe to any of the theories, actually was just trying to convey that I have no idea why all persons in power have bent the knee to Zionism/Israel.
old town's avatar
old town 11 months ago
Retarded goy ZOGbot. “They told me 6 million in state education camp” Lol brain rotted by propaganda
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Humble 11 months ago
1-The genocide of Palestinian people started with the Nakba. More than 60 years ago. 2-Americans and Europeans occupied Palestine and colonized it expelling the indigenous population. (Known as Palestinian) Israel has been doing settler colonialism since it’s inception. It’s despicable.
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npub13hgv...hjry 11 months ago
Hi Suhail. What’s your view about Hamas’ ability to build tunnels (i.e. massively complex construction projects underground) and launch rockets into Israel (i.e. which is expensive and high tech)? 1. Who do you think is funding those projects, and providing all those weapons? This is a sincere question, and I’d like to know your answer. 2. If Israel “controls everything,” how are Hamas and other groups able to build these networks of tunnels and acquire these weapons, let alone train and run a military? Do you see the contradiction? 3. You call it a prison but, as a Palestinian, yourself, did you ever visit Gaza City before 2023? Don’t you remember nice neighborhoods and restaurants with foodie culture and malls and markets? 4. Since you describe yourself as a Catholic, I’d like your opinion on this roundtable discussion from the National Catholic Register:
Hamas is exercising their right to self defense. Israel is the oppressor. It’s obvious. How they are able to do it is cuz they’re not retarded like you. Just cuz they’re oppressed doesn’t mean there aren’t ways.
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npub13hgv...hjry 11 months ago
And, right there, you expose yourself. I don’t know if you’ve ever had a rational discussion with an adult before, but answering number 2 by saying “it’s obvious because I say so” doesn’t make me the retarded one. It’s also really significant that you have no answer for my questions 1, 3, and 4. It reveals a lot about you. It’s clear that you don’t want to have a discussion. It’s clear that you don’t even want peace. You are now muted.
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npub13hgv...hjry 11 months ago
This is such an incomprehensible load of nonsense. Where and when did you learn the history of the region? Are you a sock puppet account? Muted.