Many hackers argue that they follow an ethic that both guides their behavior and justifies their break-ins. This hacker ethic states, in part, that all information should be free. This view holds that information belongs to everyone and there should be no boundaries or restraints … If all information were to be freely available and modifiable, imagine how much damage and chaos would be caused in our real world! Our whole society is based on information whose accuracy must be assured. This includes information held by banks and other financial institutions, credit bureaus, medical agencies and professionals, government agencies such as the IRS, law enforcement agencies, and educational institutions. Clearly, treating all their information as “free” would be unethical in any world where there might be careless and unethical individuals.
Predictor: Spafford, Eugene
Prediction, in context:The 1997 book “Computers, Ethics, and Society,” edited by M. David Ermann, Mary B. Williams and Michele S. Shauf, carries the 1992 article “Are Computer Hacker Break-ins Ethical?” by Eugene H. Spafford. Spafford argues that the actions of hackers, not the rationalizations they offer, should be judged. He writes: ”Many hackers argue that they follow an ethic that both guides their behavior and justifies their break-ins. This hacker ethic states, in part, that all information should be free. This view holds that information belongs to everyone and there should be no boundaries or restraints to prevent anyone from examining information. Richard Stallman states much the same thing in his GNU Manifesto. He and others have stated in various forums that if information is free, it logically follows that there should be no such thing as intellectual property, and no need for security … However, if all information were to be freely available and modifiable, imagine how much damage and chaos would be caused in our real world! Our whole society is based on information whose accuracy must be assured. This includes information held by banks and other financial institutions, credit bureaus, medical agencies and professionals, government agencies such as the IRS, law enforcement agencies, and educational institutions. Clearly, treating all their information as ‘free’ would be unethical in any world where there might be careless and unethical individuals.”
Date of prediction: January 1, 1992
Topic of prediction: Community/Culture
Subtopic: Cyberpunks/Hackers
Name of publication: Computers, Ethics, and Society (book)
Title, headline, chapter name: Are Hacker Break-ins Ethical?
Quote Type: Direct quote
Page number or URL of document at time of study:
Page 80
This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Guarino, Jennifer Anne