How Can We Encourage More Hackers to Engage with Policymakers?
Examines 25 years of hacker-policymaker collaboration since L0pht's 1998 congressional testimony, drawing lessons for engaging with European technology regulators.
Summary
A History of Hacker Policy Engagement
Since the seminal 1998 congressional testimony of the L0pht hacker collective, the US has developed unique channels for bringing technical hacker expertise directly into government policy.
Bridging the Gap Between European Regulators and Technologists
As the European Union crafts major technology regulations (such as the Cyber Resilience Act and AI Act), there is an urgent need to engage grassroots hackers in policy formulation.
Overcoming Cultural and Linguistic Barriers
Peter Stephens and Kranz analyze the cultural divide between bureaucratic policymaking circles and technical security researchers, identifying communication roadblocks.
Actionable Models for Researcher Advocacy
The speakers present practical roadmaps for technical researchers to participate in public consultations, legislative briefings, and advisory working groups.
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