For reasons we have discussed in class, Foxconn has been the target of many activist groups aiming to draw attention to the company’s questionable working conditions. A few days ago, a “hacktivist” group known as Swagg Security, or SwaggSec, hacked into the Foxconn system and publicized the usernames and passwords of many top Foxconn employees. Along with the information, the group released the following statement: “They say you got your employees all worked up, committing suicide ‘n stuff … We got somethin’ served up good…real good. Your not gonna’ know what hit you by the time you finish this release. Your company gonna’ crumble, and you deserve it,” a statement which clearly highlights the group’s purpose. This recent event integrates many ideas that have been discussed in class; whether we, as users of this technology, have an obligation to the workers who make it, and also whether hacking can ever be justified. In this situation, I wouldn’t say that SwaggSec’s actions would be considered hacking in the old sense of the word (they aren’t trying to test out the system and explore its capabilities), but the actions do fit the new connotations of the term in that they seem to have more of a malicious intent. The question remains, can their actions be justified in the name of human rights? In this case, I would say that their methods are not justifiable for the following reason: the entire setup seems more like a way to hurt Foxconn individuals and less like a way to actually move the company towards change.