Journalism, Activism, Hacktivism and a New Civic Platform

Barrett Brown thinks big.

Brown was released from federal prison on November 29 after four years of incarceration for hacking the private intelligence firm Stratfor. The hack — for which the hacker group Anonymous took credit — revealed that Stratfor was one of many companies hired to spy on activist groups for US corporations.

In his first interview since being released from a halfway house in Dallas, Brown tells WhoWhatWhy’s Jeff Schechtman about his desire to pick up where Anonymous left off, and his ambitious plans for what he calls the “Pursuant System.”

What he envisions is a new technology-driven civic platform to replace traditional democratic government. Brown also talks about his history with billionaire Trump advisor Peter Thiel, whom he considers one of the most dangerous men in America.

At his trial, Brown originally faced 100 years in prison for charges stemming from the hacking of Stratfor.

Despite renouncing ties with the shadowy hacking group that calls itself Anonymous in 2011,  Brown was charged with being the spokesperson for Anonymous and co-conspirator in its illegal actions.

Brown ultimately accepted a plea deal and, after two years of pretrial incarceration, he was sentenced to 63 months in prison. While incarcerated, he wrote award-winning columns — and thought long and hard about his future and that of the future of his country.

Listen to Jeff Schechtman’s interview with Barrett Brown and/or read the full transcript at WhoWhatWhy.