From Criminal to Crucial Participation: The Case of Dutch Volunteer Hackers

Since the 1980s, Dutch volunteer hackers have been identifying and disclosing vulnerabilities in computer systems. Initially criminalized, these hackers now play a crucial role in Dutch cybersecurity governance. This article explores the transformation of hackers from criminals to crucial participan...

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Main Author: Anne Marte Gardenier
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Cogitatio 2025-03-01
Series:Social Inclusion
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Online Access:https://www.cogitatiopress.com/socialinclusion/article/view/8876
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author Anne Marte Gardenier
author_facet Anne Marte Gardenier
author_sort Anne Marte Gardenier
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description Since the 1980s, Dutch volunteer hackers have been identifying and disclosing vulnerabilities in computer systems. Initially criminalized, these hackers now play a crucial role in Dutch cybersecurity governance. This article explores the transformation of hackers from criminals to crucial participants and examines what this case reveals about citizen participation in the digital age. The case study demonstrates that citizens can play a pivotal role in addressing challenges posed by digitization, although their contributions can remain unrecognized and constrained by hostile institutions. This article aims to deepen the understanding of various forms of citizen participation in digital society, how institutions can support or constrain them, and how citizens play a central role in shaping these institutions to legitimize their participation.
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spelling doaj-art-0ec1234c25f14106b4e4f18bfb028ae22025-08-20T01:58:04ZengCogitatioSocial Inclusion2183-28032025-03-0113010.17645/si.88764064From Criminal to Crucial Participation: The Case of Dutch Volunteer HackersAnne Marte Gardenier0Department of Industrial Engineering and Innovation Sciences, Eindhoven University of Technology, The NetherlandsSince the 1980s, Dutch volunteer hackers have been identifying and disclosing vulnerabilities in computer systems. Initially criminalized, these hackers now play a crucial role in Dutch cybersecurity governance. This article explores the transformation of hackers from criminals to crucial participants and examines what this case reveals about citizen participation in the digital age. The case study demonstrates that citizens can play a pivotal role in addressing challenges posed by digitization, although their contributions can remain unrecognized and constrained by hostile institutions. This article aims to deepen the understanding of various forms of citizen participation in digital society, how institutions can support or constrain them, and how citizens play a central role in shaping these institutions to legitimize their participation.https://www.cogitatiopress.com/socialinclusion/article/view/8876cybersecuritydigitizationmaterial participationtechnological citizenshipuninvited participationvolunteer hackers
spellingShingle Anne Marte Gardenier
From Criminal to Crucial Participation: The Case of Dutch Volunteer Hackers
Social Inclusion
cybersecurity
digitization
material participation
technological citizenship
uninvited participation
volunteer hackers
title From Criminal to Crucial Participation: The Case of Dutch Volunteer Hackers
title_full From Criminal to Crucial Participation: The Case of Dutch Volunteer Hackers
title_fullStr From Criminal to Crucial Participation: The Case of Dutch Volunteer Hackers
title_full_unstemmed From Criminal to Crucial Participation: The Case of Dutch Volunteer Hackers
title_short From Criminal to Crucial Participation: The Case of Dutch Volunteer Hackers
title_sort from criminal to crucial participation the case of dutch volunteer hackers
topic cybersecurity
digitization
material participation
technological citizenship
uninvited participation
volunteer hackers
url https://www.cogitatiopress.com/socialinclusion/article/view/8876
work_keys_str_mv AT annemartegardenier fromcriminaltocrucialparticipationthecaseofdutchvolunteerhackers