27 December 1993

"Year Ten After Orwell"

Tenth Annual Chaos Communication Congress in Hamburg

The tenth annual Chaos Communication Congress began today in Hamburg's
Eidelstedter Buergerhaus. The Congress has come to be a traditional
meeting for hackers, taking place once a year between Christmas and New
Year's Eve, offering visitors an insider's view into the world of data
travel and electronics at play.

The main theme here, however, is not so much the technical side as the
socio-political aspects involved. The question of government monitoring
of networks affects everyone, and is one of the most pressing issues of
this year. To what extent is monitoring technically possible? What are
the political plans and intentions? How can the right to privacy be
reconciled with a ban on encrypting programs? Experts in these fields
have gathered to present information on the latest technological and
legal aspects. Open discussion forums offer participants the opportunity
to form their own opinions.

The number of women hackers has been increasing, almost unnoticed by the
public. "Haecksen", female hackers, are making significant contributions
to the scene.

This year, for the first time, there is a room set up at the congress
for women only, offering opportunities for women to ask questions and
participate in discussions.

Other themes include electronic cash, copyright, people's networks and
electronic democracy, MODACOM (Telekom's packet radio network) and ISDN,
lock picking and bookkeeping discrepancies.

And, as usual, the Electronic Caf‚, the Chaos Archive, films (including
training films from the Ministry for State Security of the former German
Democratic Republic), a ZERBERUS-BBS, the Internet open information
exchange, and all kinds of communication.

Press information:

A detailed press kit will be available upon request.

Dates:     Tenth Annual Chaos Communication Congress
           27 - 29 December, 1993
           Eidelstedter Buergerhaus
           Elbgaustrasse 12
           D-22523 Hamburg-Eidelstedt

Contact:   Chaos Computer Club
           Schwenckstrasse 85
           D-20255 Hamburg

Press Hotline:    Tel.: 040-571-0133
                  Fax:  040-571-4010
                  BBS:  040-571-0810