Chaos Computer Club

Not to be confused with Chaos Esports Club, an American esports organization.

Chaos Computer Club
Formation12 September 1981; 43 years ago (1981-09-12)
West Berlin, West Germany
TypeNGO
PurposeComputer security hacking
HeadquartersHamburg, Germany
Location
Websiteccc.de/en
ASN

The Chaos Computer Club (CCC) is Europe's largest association of hackers[1] with 7,700 registered members.[2] Founded in 1981, the association is incorporated as an eingetragener Verein in Germany, with local chapters (called Erfa-Kreise) in various cities in Germany and the surrounding countries, particularly where there are German-speaking communities. Since 1985, some chapters in Switzerland have organized an independent sister association called the Chaos Computer Club Schweiz [de] (CCC-CH) instead.

The CCC describes itself as "a galactic community of life forms, independent of age, sex, race or societal orientation, which strives across borders for freedom of information…". In general, the CCC advocates more transparency in government, freedom of information, and the human right to communication. Supporting the principles of the hacker ethic, the club also fights for free universal access to computers and technological infrastructure as well as the use of open-source software.[3][failed verification] The CCC spreads an entrepreneurial vision refusing capitalist control.[4] It has been characterised as "…one of the most influential digital organisations anywhere, the centre of German digital culture, hacker culture, hacktivism, and the intersection of any discussion of democratic and digital rights".[5]

Members of the CCC have demonstrated and publicized a number of important information security problems.[6] The CCC frequently criticizes new legislation and products with weak information security which endanger citizen rights or the privacy of users. Notable members of the CCC regularly function as expert witnesses for the German constitutional court, organize lawsuits and campaigns, or otherwise influence the political process.

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  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Anderson_2006 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).