Presented at
H2K2 (2002),
July 14, 2002, 11 a.m.
(60 minutes)
Over the years, there have been many stories in the hacker world of law enforcement personnel who have abused their authority. Two of the more dramatic cases in recent memory both come out of Philadelphia. Many of us are already familiar with the horror story of Bernie S. who toured five dangerous prisons for over a year - not because of what he was charged with - but because the United States Secret Service was upset about his collection of information about them. Then there is the case of ShapeShifter, 2600 layout artist, who was arrested at the Republican National Convention in 2000 (shortly after leading a panel on the RNC at H2K) and held on half a million dollars bail as if he were a terrorist mastermind - all because he had been targeted for speaking out in public. Hear the games the authorities play and how public education really can make a difference in putting an end to such abuse.
Presenters:
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ShapeShifter
ShapeShifter became a bit of a national figure shortly after the H2K conference in 2000 when he was jailed for a week during the Republican National Convention in Philadelphia and held along with three others for over half a million dollars bail. The odd thing was that there was no actual evidence that he did anything wrong and eventually all charges were dismissed. But it was a frightening example of how individuals can be targeted simply because they speak out. (He had given a talk on planned protests at the RNC during H2K.) ShapeShifter is also the layout artist for 2600.
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Bernie S.
Bernie S. started playing with microcomputers in 1978 when he built one using RCA's 1802 microprocessor (since it controlled the first Viking Mars Lander, he though it was cool). Shortly thereafter he built an intelligent video terminal (a big deal back then) and 110 baud modem, then started hacking the local Sperry Univac mainframe at Mansfield State College. Since then he's stayed involved with computers and telecommunications, and pushed the envelope a bit too much for the U.S. Secret Service.
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