While industrial design and architecture students are usually regarded as hip and cool ones on campus, in a world totally ruled by computers it’s the computer science ‘nerds’ who are arguably the real movers and shakers on any campus.
As Wikileaks and Anonymous make headlines worldwide, we went in search of Anonymous at the TU’s computer science department.
He types something, looks around – no one’s watching. As he presses enter, the hacking begins: today it’s about ‘scientology’. He again looks around, uploads the hacked information, gets up and leaves. He smiles, knowing he’s done the job and has now uploaded information that’ll be viewed by millions across the globe within hours.
The above scenario is one playing out across the world, including here in Holland, as Wikileaks, Anonymous and the computer-savvy hackers (criminals or heroic rebels, depending on your political views) behind these organizations make headlines. As Wikileaks continues creating furor by bringing secret documents into the public domain, many clever computer users are using and sharing their computing knowledge to ‘fight the enemies’ of their choosing.
In a world controlled and driven by computer and internet, enormous power goes to those who have the knowledge to commandeer computing systems. At TU Delft, this especially would be the self-styled ‘nerds’ of the computer science section. Here then would be the likely place to find an Anonymous member, or at least to learn more about such underground movements.
TU Delft Professor Sodoyer Bernhardt, from France, believes that we cannot stop people from undertaking such activities. “Like water or money, such people and activities always find their way,” he says. “It’s human nature.” When asked if he knew any Anonymous members at TU Delft, the professor replied: “We don’t get to interact closely with the first- and second-year bachelor’s students, so I don’t know if they’re involved in such activities”. The professor further said that, as a teacher, he didn’t want his students to learn how to hack nor get involved in it: “Such activities usually create more problems.”
While the professor’s sentiments are unarguably true, the fact remains that Anonymous and today’s other emergent hacker collectives are partly peopled by computer engineering students and graduates. Anonymous, for example, one of Wikileaks’ three identified successors, represents the concept of many online community users simultaneously existing as an anarchic, digitised global brain. From around 2008, Anonymous has become increasingly associated with collaborative, international ‘hacktivism’, undertaking protests and other actions across the globe, including in the Netherlands, often aimed at promoting internet freedom and freedom of speech. Anonymous members hide their identities and thus, theoretically, could be anyone, anywhere.
To try to answer the question of whether there is an ‘anonymous’ among us required a trip to university’s CS department and informal interviews with many MSc and PhD students there. Mentioning ‘Anonymous’ reminded some students of the famous ‘Tom Cruise Scientology video’ incident, in which Anonymous members gained worldwide press for their ‘Project Chanology’, a cyber attack as form of protest against the Church of Scientology, with hackers from the Netherlands featuring prominently in the attack.
Generally, though, conversations with various TU Delft CS students revealed divided opinions on the subject. Wai kon Tse, a Dutch computer science student, stressed that Anonymous was both good and bad. “Wikileaks is informative, because governments are hiding stuff from the public. It’s like freedom of speech,” he said. But like many others, Tse also has his doubts about the impact of Anonymous and Wikileaks. ”Some information can destroy or worsen relationships and institutions,” he added, “so Anonymous must be careful. I think they’re fighting for a cause and are activists.”
Indeed, in 2009, Anonymous, along with various Iranian hackers, launched an Iranian green party support site called ‘Anonymous Iran’, attracting over 22,000 supporters. Similarly, Zimbabwean government websites were targeted by Anonymous due to censorship of WikiLeaks documents, and more recently Anonymous conducted ‘Operation Tunisia’, again targeting government websites, while earlier this year the websites of Egypt’s Ministry of Information and of President Hosni Mubarak’s National Democratic Party were knocked offline by Anonymous in support of protesters calling for Mubarak’s ouster.
When asked about Anonymous and Wikileaks, some TU Delft CS students felt that involvement in such activities can corrupt people’s minds. Imraan Ashraf, an MSc student from Pakistan, believes that there are better things for computer engineers to do and “the focus should shift from hacking to constructive development”. Apurva Dargar, an Indian computer engineering student, agreed, stating that he does not approve of what the Anonymous does and believes that ‘better’ things could be done with computers. “I’m not sure if they do the right thing and such powers could be really misused”.
These views however were countered by Sander Vermolen, a Dutch PhD student at the CS faculty who approves of what Anonymous does, although he doesn’t agree with the methods they adopt: “I think it creates a poor image of computer guys in general and I don’t think it makes us cool. Also, I’m not aware of any anonymous in TU Delft”.
Generally, though, most of the computer science students interviewed said they did not regard hacking as ‘cool’, although they were aware of the power that comes to those, like them, who can expertly commandeer computers and computer systems. Or as Tse humorously made clear regarding CS’s ‘coolness’ factor: “In front of another computer science student it can be ‘cool’ to talk about hacking, but if CS guys were trying to pick up girls with such ‘cool’ talk, we’d fail every time!”
If not ‘cool’, these students do acknowledge that an intricate understanding of computers and internet does make them powerful – although fortunately the overall perception was that they planned to be ‘ethical’ in how they wielded such powers.
Anurag Bajpai, a second-year telecommunications student from India: “I understand that I could reach a million users in a second and this makes me powerful but also responsible at the same time. I don’t find computer hacking or even programming cool, but I know it has a huge potential.”
Collegevoorzitter Dirk Jan van den Berg lichtte vrijdag 21 mei de bezuinigingsplannen van de universiteit toe. Wat begon als een matte bijeenkomst, veranderde na ongeveer een uur in een geestdriftige discussie.
De aanwezige medewerkers applaudisseerden spontaan toen een collega zich openlijk afvroeg waarom de universiteit in stilte lijdt. “De TU Delft moet een statement maken naar de landelijke politiek. In de huidige verkiezingscampagne hebben alle partijen de mond vol van Nederland Kennisland. Dat er ondertussen flink gekort wordt op de kennisinstituten is bij de massa niet bekend.”
Niemand zal ontkennen dat de TU een belangrijke rol speelt bij het leveren van onderzoekscapaciteit voor het bedrijfsleven. Van den Berg beaamt dat de samenleving hier meer in zou moeten investeren. “Ik hoop dat de komende verkiezingscampagne minder over integratie gaat en meer over economie. Zonder onderzoekscapaciteit kan de economie zich niet ontwikkelen. Technologisch onderzoek is noodzakelijk voor het oplossen van veel wereldvraagstukken. Dat gat vult de TU op. Het vormt de motivatie voor studenten om hier te studeren en het is onze kracht.”
Omdat er keuzes gemaakt moeten worden en de TU kwaliteit boven kwantiteit stelt, wordt momenteel onderzocht of voor een aantal studierichtingen een numerus fixus ingesteld kan worden. Dit staat haaks op het tekort aan bekwame afgestudeerden binnen bepaalde sectoren in het bedrijfsleven. Door de penibele financiële situatie van de TU lijkt het volgens Van den Berg echter onvermijdelijk.
Het verwijt dat de TU niet voldoende moeite doet om de hoogte van de eerste geldstroom op de politieke agenda te zetten, pareert Van den Berg. “Het heeft weinig zin om meer geld te vragen. Politici hebben zeker in campagnetijd een soort tefallaag voor dit type klachten. Het feit dat we zelf het heft in handen nemen met een uitgebreid bezuinigingsprogramma, is wel een goed argument richting OCW (het ministerie van onderwijs, red.).”
Ook denkt de TU mee in de discussie over Nederland Kennisland. “We lanceerden een eigen voorstel naar Deens-Zwitsers model. In Denemarken fuseren grote technologische instituten en de technische universiteiten om te zorgen voor meer volume en een betere stroomlijning van innovaties. In Zwitserland werken beide instellingen samen bij de organisatie van het onderzoek.” Het voorgestelde model helpt volgens Van den Berg om los te komen van de politiek.
De geplande bezuinigingen van 45 miljoen euro zijn onder te verdelen in 15 miljoen voor het wegwerken van tekorten en 30 miljoen voor investeringen in een aantal vooruitstrevende wetenschapsgebieden, onderwijs, onderzoeksinfrastructuur en het gebouwenbestand. Hoe het geld precies verdeeld wordt, is pas in het najaar bekend.
He types something, looks around – no one’s watching. As he presses enter, the hacking begins: today it’s about ‘scientology’. He again looks around, uploads the hacked information, gets up and leaves. He smiles, knowing he’s done the job and has now uploaded information that’ll be viewed by millions across the globe within hours.
The above scenario is one playing out across the world, including here in Holland, as Wikileaks, Anonymous and the computer-savvy hackers (criminals or heroic rebels, depending on your political views) behind these organizations make headlines. As Wikileaks continues creating furor by bringing secret documents into the public domain, many clever computer users are using and sharing their computing knowledge to ‘fight the enemies’ of their choosing.
In a world controlled and driven by computer and internet, enormous power goes to those who have the knowledge to commandeer computing systems. At TU Delft, this especially would be the self-styled ‘nerds’ of the computer science section. Here then would be the likely place to find an Anonymous member, or at least to learn more about such underground movements.
TU Delft Professor Sodoyer Bernhardt, from France, believes that we cannot stop people from undertaking such activities. “Like water or money, such people and activities always find their way,” he says. “It’s human nature.” When asked if he knew any Anonymous members at TU Delft, the professor replied: “We don’t get to interact closely with the first- and second-year bachelor’s students, so I don’t know if they’re involved in such activities”. The professor further said that, as a teacher, he didn’t want his students to learn how to hack nor get involved in it: “Such activities usually create more problems.”
While the professor’s sentiments are unarguably true, the fact remains that Anonymous and today’s other emergent hacker collectives are partly peopled by computer engineering students and graduates. Anonymous, for example, one of Wikileaks’ three identified successors, represents the concept of many online community users simultaneously existing as an anarchic, digitised global brain. From around 2008, Anonymous has become increasingly associated with collaborative, international ‘hacktivism’, undertaking protests and other actions across the globe, including in the Netherlands, often aimed at promoting internet freedom and freedom of speech. Anonymous members hide their identities and thus, theoretically, could be anyone, anywhere.
To try to answer the question of whether there is an ‘anonymous’ among us required a trip to university’s CS department and informal interviews with many MSc and PhD students there. Mentioning ‘Anonymous’ reminded some students of the famous ‘Tom Cruise Scientology video’ incident, in which Anonymous members gained worldwide press for their ‘Project Chanology’, a cyber attack as form of protest against the Church of Scientology, with hackers from the Netherlands featuring prominently in the attack.
Generally, though, conversations with various TU Delft CS students revealed divided opinions on the subject. Wai kon Tse, a Dutch computer science student, stressed that Anonymous was both good and bad. “Wikileaks is informative, because governments are hiding stuff from the public. It’s like freedom of speech,” he said. But like many others, Tse also has his doubts about the impact of Anonymous and Wikileaks. ”Some information can destroy or worsen relationships and institutions,” he added, “so Anonymous must be careful. I think they’re fighting for a cause and are activists.”
Indeed, in 2009, Anonymous, along with various Iranian hackers, launched an Iranian green party support site called ‘Anonymous Iran’, attracting over 22,000 supporters. Similarly, Zimbabwean government websites were targeted by Anonymous due to censorship of WikiLeaks documents, and more recently Anonymous conducted ‘Operation Tunisia’, again targeting government websites, while earlier this year the websites of Egypt’s Ministry of Information and of President Hosni Mubarak’s National Democratic Party were knocked offline by Anonymous in support of protesters calling for Mubarak’s ouster.
When asked about Anonymous and Wikileaks, some TU Delft CS students felt that involvement in such activities can corrupt people’s minds. Imraan Ashraf, an MSc student from Pakistan, believes that there are better things for computer engineers to do and “the focus should shift from hacking to constructive development”. Apurva Dargar, an Indian computer engineering student, agreed, stating that she does not approve of what the Anonymous does and believes that ‘better’ things could be done with computers. “I’m not sure if they do the right thing and such powers could be really misused”.
These views however were countered by Sander Vermolen, a Dutch PhD student at the CS faculty who approves of what Anonymous does, although he doesn’t agree with the methods they adopt: “I think it creates a poor image of computer guys in general and I don’t think it makes us cool. Also, I’m not aware of any anonymous in TU Delft”.
Generally, though, most of the computer science students interviewed said they did not regard hacking as ‘cool’, although they were aware of the power that comes to those, like them, who can expertly commandeer computers and computer systems. Or as Tse humorously made clear regarding CS’s ‘coolness’ factor: “In front of another computer science student it can be ‘cool’ to talk about hacking, but if CS guys were trying to pick up girls with such ‘cool’ talk, we’d fail every time!”
If not ‘cool’, these students do acknowledge that an intricate understanding of computers and internet does make them powerful – although fortunately the overall perception was that they planned to be ‘ethical’ in how they wielded such powers.
Anurag Bajpai, a second-year telecommunications student from India: “I understand that I could reach a million users in a second and this makes me powerful but also responsible at the same time. I don’t find computer hacking or even programming cool, but I know it has a huge potential.”
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