Hackting Out: Defacement and Hate Online amid Global Conflicts Cybercrimeology

In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Alice Hutchings and her PhD student, Anh Vu, from the University of Cambridge, delve into the intricate world of cybercrime amidst global conflicts, with a special focus on the challenges of deplatforming hate groups. They discuss their research at the Cambridge Cybercrime Centre, focusing on the surge of hacker defacements and DDoS attacks in response to international tensions, notably the conflicts in Ukraine and Israel-Gaza. Additionally, they explore the complexities of deplatforming online hate groups, using the case of Kiwi Farms as an example of how difficult it can be to mitigate the activities of these groups without unintended consequences. Dr. Hutchings and Anh Vu highlight how these cyber incidents reflect broader geopolitical dynamics and the persistent challenge of controlling harmful online behavior while respecting free speech. Their analysis provides a comprehensive view of the cyber dimensions of warfare and online community management.