Legalize Hacking

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You have a hypothesis (H1) That "Hacking should be legalized"

Now, I don't know the "rules of engagement" for your paper, but I would also expect that you should have an antithesis (H0: also known as the "null hypothesis") "Hacking should not be legalised"?

A few ideas:

H0 (against):

1. Hacking is not illegal in many countries, so how can you legalise something that is not illegal anyway?

2. The internet is international, without international consensus how can anything be legalised. Failures in the UN, GATT, emissions of greenhouse gasses, polution control etc. indicate that agreement cannot be reached on issues far more important that hacking.

H1 (for):

1. Experience has shown that anti-hacking laws are virtually unenforceable. A law that cannot be enforced is a "BAD law" so any anti- hacking laws in existence should be repealed (legalisation by default?). You might like to think of this as the "anarchist argument" :)

2. Hacking is a "means" not an "end". The "end" can be good, bad or indifferent. Where it is "bad" there is plenty of legislation to cover to cover the situation..........espionage, fraud, terrorism, vandalism...................etc. Driving an automobile is legal until you start speeding, driving getaway cars, transporting drugs......................hacking is like driving an automobile.........it is not the action, but the INTENT that matters?

You need to start with a VERY CLEAR definition of the meaning of the word "hacking" in your context.

Might I suggest you use the word "Cognoscenti" for the old meaning of "hacker"; that is: someone who has a high degree of knowledge and technical competency.

You might conclude that hacking should be "de-criminalised", rather than "legalised". I think that you need to make this point very clear or you will back yourself into a logical impasse?

I realise that this is semantics (NO! not Norton, you silly man :D ) but under any system that I am aware of, anything is legal unless declared otherwise.

And for the pedants out there: yes, I am aware of Count Draco and his philosophies on the matter :cool:

I hope that helps