LAS VEGAS — At the largest hacker conference in the world this week, DEFCON 2024, a notable turnout occurred for a rare and overtly partisan event, the DEF CON Political Fundraiser 2024 Backing Kamala Harris’ Presidential Campaign. This fundraiser was specifically aimed at supporting the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, Kamala Harris.
1. How Much Money Was Raised at the DEF CON “Hackers for Harris” Event 2024?
The “Hackers for Harris” event is the largest political fundraiser ever held at the DEF CON conference in its 31 years of history. It occurred on Thursday afternoon and generated over $150,000 in pledged donations. This is a small amount compared to Kamala Harris’ other recent fundraising efforts.
Organizers of the DEF CON Political Fundraising Event Supporting Kamala Harris:
Kemba Walden and Jake Braun organized a fundraiser for Vice President Kamala Harris. They are former staffers from the Trump and Biden administrations, respectively. Additionally, this event aimed to garner support from the DEF CON community, a group Harris had previously championed for their election cybersecurity research in 2018.
2. Hacker Community Response to the DEF CON Political Fundraiser 2024:
Attendees were invited to contribute between $250 and $10,000 to her campaign. With approximately 150 attendees, the fundraiser demonstrated significant interest from this tech-savvy audience.
“When Biden signed the national cybersecurity strategy and we attended DEF CON last year, we invited hackers to visit the White House,” Walden explained to NBC News.
“The cybersecurity community was undoubtedly energized by the engagement from the Biden-Harris administration. However, this year, with Harris taking a more prominent role, there seems to be a heightened interest in the political aspects of the situation, which wasn’t as prevalent before.”
3. DEF CON’s Support for Kamala Harris vs. Other Tech Sectors in Political Fundraising:
DEF CON’s fundraising efforts for Democratic nominees have historically been on a smaller scale. In 2016, they organized “Hackers for Hillary,” followed by a virtual fundraiser for Biden in 2020, the only year since 1993 that the conference was held entirely online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Combined, these efforts raised approximately $100,000, as reported by POLITICO.
In contrast to the cybersecurity community’s support for Harris, the cryptocurrency industry has shown significant enthusiasm for former President Donald Trump. Last month, Trump surprised attendees at the world’s largest Bitcoin conference by reversing his previous skepticism of cryptocurrency.
This event, which took a notable rightward turn, featured prominent Republican politicians and conservative influencers. Hence underscoring a growing alignment between the cryptocurrency sector and the Republican Party.
4. Role of the Former Head of CISA in the Hacker Community:
- Chris Krebs, who led CISA, Cybersecurity, and Infrastructure Security Agency, under the Trump administration, was a “DEF CON mainstay in government”, suggesting he had a strong presence and involvement in the hacker community.
- This highlights the often nonpartisan nature of the cybersecurity field. As Krebs was able to maintain a presence at the DEF CON conference despite serving under the Trump administration.
5. Republican Impact on the DEF CON and Presidential Campaign:
Republican actions have alienated many in the hacker community:
- Trump allies misrepresented DEF CON’s election cybersecurity findings to try to prove Trump won the 2020 election
- Andy Biggs introduced a failed amendment to stop paying a CISA election cybersecurity official’s salary
- The Heritage Foundation’s “Project 2025” proposes gutting the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)
6. Kamala Harris’s Identity in her Support Within the DEF CON Community:
In stark contrast to other political figures, Walden, openly expressed her admiration for Kamala Harris. Walden is the only Black woman to have ever held a senior cyber leadership position in the White House. Consequently, she views Harris not just as a political leader, but as a profound inspiration. Reflecting on Harris’s historic rise to the Vice Presidency, Walden stated:
“When I saw her become the Vice President — as a Black woman, and unapologetically — I thought to myself, I can do this.”
This sentiment echoes throughout the DEF CON community, where support for Harris’s presidential campaign continues to gain momentum.
Verdict:
“DEF CON Political Fundraiser 2024 Backing Kamala Harris’ Presidential Campaign” marks a significant moment in the intersection of technology and politics. It demonstrates a growing alignment between the hacker community and the Democratic presidential nominee, Kamala Harris.
With over $150,000 raised, this event not only set a record for political fundraising at the conference but also highlighted the community’s increasing engagement in political discourse, particularly in the context of cybersecurity.
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FAQs:
1. Why Did DEF_CON Host a Political Fundraiser for Kamala Harris?
This fundraiser was a unique event held at DEF CON, the world’s largest hacking conference, to support Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign.
2. What Is the Significance of the DEF_CON Political Fundraiser 2024 for Kamala Harris’ Campaign?
The DEF_CON Political Fundraiser 2024 backing Kamala Harris is surely a significant event. As it marks the largest political fundraiser in DEF CON’s history and underscores her appeal to the cybersecurity community.
3. How did the DEF CON Political Fundraiser Backing Kamala Harris compare to previous political events at the conference?
This fundraiser was significantly larger than previous political events at DEF CON. In fact, it surpassed fundraisers for Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden.
