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Does Information Want To Be Free? Hacktivism And The Democratization Of Information, Ashley Gorham
Does Information Want To Be Free? Hacktivism And The Democratization Of Information, Ashley Gorham
The Journal of International Relations, Peace Studies, and Development
It was at the first Hackers’ Conference in 1984 that Stewart Brand coined the phrase “information wants to be free.” There are many ways to interpret this statement, but the most prevalent one is the “deterministic” interpretation. According to this reading, information is understood as possessing an innate tendency toward freedom—what it “wants,” it gets. Information is seen as self-moving and progressive. Implicit in this understanding is the belief that information will promote equality and democracy as it grows. The deterministic interpretation’s strongest proponents are the three W’s: Wonks, Writers, and the Wired. Politicians, political advisors, media members and technological …