DEF CON Bans Three Individuals Linked to Jeffrey Epstein: Two Hackers and a Former MIT Media Lab Director
Published
Key Takeaways
- Prominent Figures Banned: The DEF CON hacking conference has banned hackers Pablos Holman and Vincenzo Iozzo, along with former MIT Media Lab director Joichi Ito.
- Reason for Ban: The decision follows the release of Department of Justice files and media reports detailing the individuals' connections to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
- Industry-Wide Action: This move follows other cybersecurity conferences, Black Hat and Code Blue, which also removed Iozzo from their review boards.
DEF CON, one of the world's most prominent hacking conferences, has officially banned three individuals due to their reported links with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The organization announced that Pablos Holman, Vincenzo Iozzo, and Joichi Ito have been added to its public list of banned persons.Â
Context of the Epstein Connections in Tech
The ban follows revelations about the extent of Epstein connections in tech. This cybersecurity conference decision was made in light of recently released Department of Justice files and investigative reports detailing email exchanges and meetings between the men and Epstein.Â
- Vincenzo Iozzo, a veteran cybersecurity professional, reportedly interacted with Epstein between 2014 and 2018.Â
- Joichi Ito, the former director of the MIT Media Lab, resigned in 2019 after his extensive financial and personal ties to Epstein were alleged.Â
- Pablos Holman, a futurist and inventor, was also shown to have been in contact with Epstein and allegedly tried to help him manage negative online news stories.Â
The community has been grappling with these connections, leading to increased pressure on event organizers to uphold their codes of conduct.
Implications for Conference Transparency
The decision by DEF CON highlights a commitment to DEF CON transparency and community safety. By publicly listing the banned individuals and citing the reasons, the conference is setting a clear standard for acceptable conduct and association.Â
This action has significant implications for the broader cybersecurity community, signaling that ethical considerations and personal conduct are becoming as important as technical expertise. Last week, Iozzo was removed from Black Hat and Code Blue conferences.
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