BBC:

Using the alias “Neo” – a reference to The Matrix films – the hacker claims he wants to expose those cashing in on the recession in Latvia.

He is slowly passing details of leading Latvian firms via Twitter to the TV station and has its audiences hooked.

The Latvian government and police are investigating the security breach.

Data leaked so far includes pay details of managers from a Latvian bank that received a bail-out.

It reveals that many did not take the salary cuts they promised.

Other data shows that state-owned companies secretly awarded bonuses while publicly asking the government for help.

Two things: One, it’s interesting that the Robin Hood of our day does not actually steal stuff from the rich and give it to the poor; he instead steals information about the rich and shares this information with the world.

As for two: It must mean something (the homogenization of financial/global space?) that even there, in faraway Latvia, the problem is exactly the same as here—greedy banks, massive bail-outs, and huge bonuses.

Charles Mudede—who writes about film, books, music, and his life in Rhodesia, Zimbabwe, the USA, and the UK for The Stranger—was born near a steel plant in Kwe Kwe, Zimbabwe. He has no memory...

5 replies on “Robin Hood in the Age of Information”

  1. … and it must mean something that even brilliant (I’m just assuming that this one is brilliant, and didn’t just stumble across some legit credentials) hackers with social agendas can’t come up with their own identities/names …

  3. “in faraway Latvia, the problem is exactly the same as here—greedy banks, massive bail-outs, and huge bonuses.”

    “Oh yeah, Latvia. I’ve heard of that place. They’re in the Olympics.”

    Unfortunately, that is the extent of the average watcher of the news lately. And the only reason they know that is because hey have the “remote” in hand. (or mouse)
    It’s nice to have some Did You Know? to think about… besides them not getting a medal in Hockey.

  5. I wish Eyman would do an initiative requiring that the pay – salary, bonus, options, interest-free or forgiveable loans, “allowances” for cars and houses and parties and private jet trips to Rio – for all corporations doing business in WA be made public for the top 10 percent of paid individuals.

    That would be great.

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