Technical truth meets policy power
Run by I Am The Cavalry since 2017; global since 2024.
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The Problem We're Solving
Hackers explore technology, ask questions, and anticipate consequences its use (and abuse). Hackers do more than spot problems - they build tools and prototype solutions.
Policymakers steer society toward its values and away from harm. They need foresight from early adopters about emerging risks and opportunities - and what to do about them.
But hackers and policymakers don't often have the same social circles or speak the same language. Hackers on the Hill connects them.
What We Do
Hackers on the Hill advances effective cyber policy by building trusted spaces where policymakers and cybersecurity researchers work together on shared challenges. We forge relationships, hold events, and facilitate ongoing dialogue across stakeholder communities - rounded in shared values and principles.
We're an all-volunteer initiative from I Am The Cavalry where no one gets paid and no one's selling anything. We just think policy works better when the people making it have candid conversations with the people living it.
Our Values
We believe that when policymakers work together with cybersecurity on key issues, we can achieve better societal outcomes sooner than would otherwise happen. Therefore, our values support creating conditions that facilitate positive interactions and avoid those that impede them.
We embrace the best of the hacker ethos to promote inclusivity and respect, curiosity, collaboration, trust and understanding among attendees who share our values and goals.
These values characterize the Hackers on the Hill community, translating between technical, business, and public policy. The actions of each one of us reflect on all of us, so are diligent in adhering to upholding these values.
We value a welcoming and respectful environment...
...asking participants to embrace humility, treat others as equals, and lift people up with them.
Therefore, we keep our community free of harassment, name calling, or intimidation of any kind (physical, mental, verbal), for any reason, of any attendee in a manner that makes them feel uncomfortable, unwelcome, or afraid.
We value expanding our common communities...
...recognizing that the difficult cyber policy challenges ahead of us will need to draw from the broadest possible set of perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds.
Therefore, our events remain open to the greatest possible diversity of people, while maintaining fair and reasonable attendance requirements - including those required by any government venues hosting us.
We value cyber policy rooted in technical literacy...
...establishing trust and avoiding unforeseen consequences depend on assumptions aligning with current tools, tactics, and technologies.
Therefore, we encourage participants to accurately represent their knowledge in any particular subdomain and to broker connection with others, as appropriate, to foster the best possible cyber policy positions.
We value collaboration toward common good...
...supporting passionate, independent voices of reason acting as ambassadors and translators from their communities.
Therefore we do not allow self-promotion, shilling, sales pitches, lobbying, corporate sponsorship, or other private-interest activities.
We value high-trust among good faith actors...
...fostering collaborative approaches aligned to their common goals and the public good.
Therefore, we do not allow people who actively commit cyber criminal activities (or actively support or enable them), hold values at odds with ours, or who seek to disrupt, denigrate, or otherwise be jerks.
Years running
Hackers engaged
Policy briefings
Volunteer
A Global Movement
What started in Washington, DC has grown worldwide. Each event is organized by local cybersecurity professionals who know the local policy needs and local hacker voices.
We're planning even more events in more places. Join our notification list to hear when that happens.
FAQ
Who runs Hackers on the Hill?
Hackers on the Hill, as a whole, is run by volunteers from the I Am The Cavalry initiative - a group of dedicated individuals from the cybersecurity researcher community. Our goal is to share key resources for cybersecurity knowledge, broker connections to the community’s expertise, and improve understanding among policymakers and technologists.
Each location is run by locals who organize and manage their specific events to best serve their communities.
Who are these events for?
Hackers on the Hill is for cybersecurity researchers and practitioners who want to inform policy with real-world experience. We also welcome policy-adjacent technologists who can contribute to technical discussions. Depending on space, we may also be able to open some events to a broader audience. This is a non-commercial event with a no-shilling policy.
What are the events like or what can I do to prepare for one?
Each local event is organized independently, so the format may vary. Generally, events include a plenary session with speakers from the cybersecurity and public policy communities, followed by meetings between attendees and policymakers. Check event pages for more details. Here’s a little more info to help you understand what to expect and how to prepare:
- Watch plenary sessions from past years on the Hackers on the Hill YouTube channel.
- Review the Guide to Meeting With Congressional Offices prepared by Harley Geiger.
- Read the Hackers on the Hill 2023 overview on the I Am The Cavalry blog.
- Explore our archives, linked in the header.
How do you handle press?
Press attendance is handled separately for each event. If you are a member of the press and would like to attend or speak with us, please get in touch.
How can I be involved in this or other similar initiatives?
You can find more from us at I Am The Cavalry. We are also fans of TechCongress and the Aspen Tech Policy Hub fellowship.
If you want to volunteer to help organize Hackers on the Hill events or would like to suggest a location, please get in touch!