Cryptoparties: Empowerment in internet security?

Abstract

Cryptoparties (CPs) are a global movement of forums where citizens can come to learn how to improve their digital privacy and security. The present paper is one of the few empirical studies on CPs and is based on participant observation of three CPs. I demonstrate that the organisers of CPs strive for an egalitarian space for teaching and learning. Even though this goal is not always achieved, CPs might still serve as an example of citizen education in a technological society where every citizen needs to deal with complex technological issues. In addition, this paper contributes to the emerging debate on ‘doing internet governance’, broadening our focus to include user-based and decentred practices. I argue for the political relevance of CPs showing how they enact decentred threat-scenarios to a non-expert public.