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a hacker who targets systems or networks to promote a political or social cause
What does "hacktivist" mean in internet culture slang?
This term emerged in the 1990s within online protest and computer security circles, notably associated with groups like Anonymous and Cult of the Dead Cow. Today, it is used to describe someone who uses hacking techniques — such as website defacement, data leaks, or DDoS attacks — to promote political or social causes rather than for personal gain. People typically discuss hacktivists in news coverage of cyber protests, free speech battles, or corporate whistleblowing. The structure blends "hacker" with "activist," forming a compound noun that captures the fusion of technical skill and ideological motivation.
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