Ethics of Hacking: The Modern Day David & Goliath Story

Imagine spending your hard-earned income to purchase something you have wanted for a very long time, then having someone tell you what you can and cannot do with your property. It seems a bit strange, right? Well, that's exactly what Andrew 'bunnie' Huang stumbled upon after hacking and reverse-engineering hardware on the popular gaming operating system, Xbox. We often live day after day without ever thinking about the "fine print" of the things in our lives. However, what happens when you are suddenly forced to pay attention to what you can and cannot do with your purchases? And in this case, where do you draw the line between hacking and ethics?

Singularity has partnered with Wildtype Media to bring you a fascinating documentary about this modern-day David and Goliath story, "The Hacktivist." It will leave you questioning where you draw your line in this ethical dilemma as we follow researcher, activist and celebrity hacker, Andrew 'Bunnie' Huang as he goes head-to-head against tech powerhouse Microsoft.

The documentary tells the story of Andrew ‘bunnie’ Huang, a hacker who rose to international fame in 2001 after clashing with Microsoft over his guide to modifying the Xbox. He later sued the U.S. government to restore users’ rights to own and use their technology. Through analyzing these events and expert interviews, the film discusses the topic of trust in an increasingly tech-driven world. 

"The Hacktivist" has already garnered numerous awards: 

• Official Selection at Science Film Festival 2022
• Official Selection of the Kuala Lumpur International Film Festival in the Sky
• Official Selection at New Jersey Documentary Film Festival 
• Official Selection at Milledgeville-Eatonton Film Festival
• Finalist in The Raw Science Film Festival 
• World Film Carnival Outstanding Achievement Award (Documentary Film)
• World Film Carnival Outstanding Achievement Award (Debut filmmaker) 

Join us for our virtual watch party and panel discussion, and let us know what you think!

‍"Without the right to tinker and explore, we risk becoming enslaved by technology; and the more we exercise the right to hack, the harder it will be to take that right away" –Andrew ‘Bunnie’ Huang

Watch the trailer for a little sneak peek:

We invite you and all of the Singularity network, along with your family and friends, to our FREE, worldwide virtual watch party and “Hacking Ethics” panel (with subsequent Q&A) on September 22, 2022. Panelists include bunnie, Singularity expert Ja-naé Duane, hacker Sean ‘xobs’ Cross, and others. The discussion panel will explore the ethics and implications of hacktivism, which has been famously used by groups like Anonymous to protest government and big tech.

Event Details:

Date: September 12, 2022

Time: 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm (EST)

Location: Register here! 

We are trying to bring as much visibility to the topic as possible, so please spread the word! Share this with all of your family and friends so they can join the conversation. Register here today!