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Hacking and power: social and technological determinism in the digital age

journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-08, 18:52 authored by Tim Jordan
This article outlines the nature of hacking and then draws implications from this for understandings of technology and society in the digital age. Hacking is analysed as having a material practice related to computers and networks taken up by two core groups: crackers who break into other people’s computers and network and the free software and open source who produce software based on an understanding of property as distribution. Hacking works constantly to develop determinations between technology and society in both directions. This conclusion is then theorised in relation to Hutchby’s concept of affordances and is compared to classic accounts of technological determinism. Accounts of technology and society in the digital age need to consider both technological and social determinations, that such determinations are particularly fluid in relation to programming and that understanding power and politics in relation technology needs a concept of technological and determination.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Published version

Journal

First Monday

ISSN

1396-0466

Publisher

University of Illinois at Chicago Library

Issue

7

Volume

14

Page range

1-16

Department affiliated with

  • Media and Film Publications

Notes

M1 - 7

Full text available

  • No

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2014-11-13

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2015-02-11

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