The excessive surveillance has brought to life a phenomenon known today as ‘hacktivism’. As described at www.thehacktivist.com, hacktivism “is the fusion of hacking and activism; politics and technology“. It can be said that a hacktivist uses the same tools and techniques as a hacker, but does so in order to disrupt services and bring attention to a political or social cause. These tools include web site defacements, redirects, denial-of-service attacks, information theft, web site parodies, virtual sit-ins, and virtual sabotage. Whether hacktivism is a crime may be debated. Opponents argue that hacktivism causes damage in a forum where there is already ample opportunity for nondisruptive free speech. Others insist that such an act is the equivalent of a protest and is therefore protected as a form of free speech.
To get a better understanding of what ‘hacktivism’ is and who the ‘hacktivists’ are, watch the videos below: