The Ethics of Hacking

Political hackers, like the Anonymous collective, have demonstrated their willingness to use political violence to further their agendas. However, many of their causes are intuitively good things to fight for.

This book argues that when the state fails to protect people, hackers can intervene. It highlights the space for hackers to operate as legitimate actors; details what actions are justified towards what end; outlines mechanisms to aid ethically justified decisions; and directs the political community on how to react.

Applying this framework to hacking operations including the Arab Spring, police brutality in the USA, and Nigerian and Ugandan homophobic legislation, it offers a unique contribution to hacking as a contemporary political activity.

Author: Ross W. Bellaby
Publisher: Bristol University Press
Published: 04/25/2023
Pages: 162
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.89lbs
Size: 9.21h x 6.14w x 0.44d
ISBN: 9781529231816

About the Author
Ross W. Bellaby is Senior Lecturer in Security Studies in the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of Sheffield. His main research examines the application of ethics to violence and security, with specific attention to developing new ethical frameworks for hacking, state intelligence and surveillance, and military use of artificial intelligence in warfare.