Rop Gonggrijp
Encyclopedia
Robbert Valentijn Gonggrijp (born 14 February 1968 in Amsterdam
) is a Dutch hacker
and one of the founders of XS4ALL
.
in the Dutch Zaanstreek area
, he became known as a teenage hacker and appeared as one of the main characters in Jan Jacobs's book "Kraken en Computers" ("Hacking and computers", Veen uitgevers 1985, ISBN 90-204-2651-6) which describes the early hacker scene in The Netherlands. Moved to Amsterdam
in 1988. Founded the hacker
magazine Hack-Tic
in 1989. Was believed to be a major security threat by authorities in The Netherlands as well as in the USA. In the masthead of Hack-Tic
, Gonggrijp described his role as hoofdverdachte ('prime suspect'). He was convinced that the Internet would radically alter society.
In 1993, a number of people surrounding Hack-Tic
including Gonggrijp founded XS4ALL
. It was the first ISP that offered access to the Internet for private individuals in the Netherlands. Gonggrijp sold the company to the former enemy Dutch-Telecom KPN in 1997. After he left XS4ALL, Gonggrijp founded ITSX, a computer security evaluation company, which was bought by Madison Gurkha in 2006. In 2001, Gonggrijp started work on the Cryptophone, a mobile telephone that can encrypt
conversations.
Since 1989, Gonggrijp has been the main organizer of hacker events held every four years. Originally organized by the cast of Hack-Tic
, these events have continued to live to this day.
Throughout the years, he has repeatedly shown his concerns about the increasing amount of information on individuals that government agencies and companies have access to. Rop held a controversial talk titled "We lost the war" at the Chaos Communication Congress
2005 in Berlin together with Frank Rieger.
In 2006 he founded the organization "Wij vertrouwen stemcomputers niet" ("We do not trust voting computers") which campaigns against the use of electronic voting systems without a Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail
and which showed in October 2006 on Dutch television how an electronic voting machine
from manufacturer Nedap
could easily be hacked. These findings were taken seriously both by the
Dutch government and by international election observers.
On May 16, 2008 the Dutch government decided that elections in the Netherlands will be held using paper ballots and red pencil only. A proposal to develop a new generation of voting computers was rejected.
Gonggrijp has worked for whistleblowing site Wikileaks
, helping to prepare their April 2010 release of video footage from the July 12, 2007 Baghdad airstrike
.
On December 14 of 2010, in relation to ongoing investigations of WikiLeaks, the US Department of Justice issued a subpoena ordering Twitter
to release information regarding Gonggrijp's account as well as those of Julian Assange
, Bradley Manning, Birgitta Jónsdóttir
, Jacob Appelbaum
and all 637,000 users following @wikileaks.The reason is Gonggrijp's collaboration in releasing the “Collateral Murder” video in April 2010, a WikiLeaks action.
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
) is a Dutch hacker
Hacker (computer security)
In computer security and everyday language, a hacker is someone who breaks into computers and computer networks. Hackers may be motivated by a multitude of reasons, including profit, protest, or because of the challenge...
and one of the founders of XS4ALL
XS4ALL
XS4ALL is the third-oldest Internet service provider in the Netherlands, after NLnet and SURFnet. However, XS4ALL was the first company to offer Internet access to individuals, since 1993...
.
Biography
While growing up in WormerWormer
Wormer is a town in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is a part of the municipality of Wormerland, and lies about 13 km northwest of Amsterdam.In 2006, the town of Wormer had 12566 inhabitants...
in the Dutch Zaanstreek area
Zaan
The Zaan is a small river in the province of North-Holland in The Netherlands and the name of the district through which it runs. The river was originally a side arm of the IJ bay and travels 10 kilometers through the municipality of Zaanstad north of Amsterdam, from West-Knollendam in the north...
, he became known as a teenage hacker and appeared as one of the main characters in Jan Jacobs's book "Kraken en Computers" ("Hacking and computers", Veen uitgevers 1985, ISBN 90-204-2651-6) which describes the early hacker scene in The Netherlands. Moved to Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
in 1988. Founded the hacker
Hacker (computer security)
In computer security and everyday language, a hacker is someone who breaks into computers and computer networks. Hackers may be motivated by a multitude of reasons, including profit, protest, or because of the challenge...
magazine Hack-Tic
Hack-Tic
Hack-Tic was a Dutch hacker magazine published between 1989 and 1993. Throughout its existence, Hack-Tic obtained a cult following and upset the authorities beyond the Dutch borders.- History :...
in 1989. Was believed to be a major security threat by authorities in The Netherlands as well as in the USA. In the masthead of Hack-Tic
Hack-Tic
Hack-Tic was a Dutch hacker magazine published between 1989 and 1993. Throughout its existence, Hack-Tic obtained a cult following and upset the authorities beyond the Dutch borders.- History :...
, Gonggrijp described his role as hoofdverdachte ('prime suspect'). He was convinced that the Internet would radically alter society.
In 1993, a number of people surrounding Hack-Tic
Hack-Tic
Hack-Tic was a Dutch hacker magazine published between 1989 and 1993. Throughout its existence, Hack-Tic obtained a cult following and upset the authorities beyond the Dutch borders.- History :...
including Gonggrijp founded XS4ALL
XS4ALL
XS4ALL is the third-oldest Internet service provider in the Netherlands, after NLnet and SURFnet. However, XS4ALL was the first company to offer Internet access to individuals, since 1993...
. It was the first ISP that offered access to the Internet for private individuals in the Netherlands. Gonggrijp sold the company to the former enemy Dutch-Telecom KPN in 1997. After he left XS4ALL, Gonggrijp founded ITSX, a computer security evaluation company, which was bought by Madison Gurkha in 2006. In 2001, Gonggrijp started work on the Cryptophone, a mobile telephone that can encrypt
Encryption
In cryptography, encryption is the process of transforming information using an algorithm to make it unreadable to anyone except those possessing special knowledge, usually referred to as a key. The result of the process is encrypted information...
conversations.
Since 1989, Gonggrijp has been the main organizer of hacker events held every four years. Originally organized by the cast of Hack-Tic
Hack-Tic
Hack-Tic was a Dutch hacker magazine published between 1989 and 1993. Throughout its existence, Hack-Tic obtained a cult following and upset the authorities beyond the Dutch borders.- History :...
, these events have continued to live to this day.
Throughout the years, he has repeatedly shown his concerns about the increasing amount of information on individuals that government agencies and companies have access to. Rop held a controversial talk titled "We lost the war" at the Chaos Communication Congress
Chaos Communication Congress
The Chaos Communication Congress is an annual meeting of the international hacker scene, organized by the Chaos Computer Club. The congress features a variety of lectures and workshops on technical and political issues....
2005 in Berlin together with Frank Rieger.
In 2006 he founded the organization "Wij vertrouwen stemcomputers niet" ("We do not trust voting computers") which campaigns against the use of electronic voting systems without a Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail
Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail
Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail or Verified Paper Record is intended as an independent verification system for voting machines designed to allow voters to verify that their vote was cast correctly, to detect possible election fraud or malfunction, and to provide a means to audit the stored...
and which showed in October 2006 on Dutch television how an electronic voting machine
Electronic voting
Electronic voting is a term encompassing several different types of voting, embracing both electronic means of casting a vote and electronic means of counting votes....
from manufacturer Nedap
Nedap
Nedap is a Netherlands based company. Its principal place of business is Groenlo, the Netherlands. It has subsidiaries in Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, the Netherlands and Spain, and has been quoted on the Euronext exchange since 1947.The company focuses on developing and supplying...
could easily be hacked. These findings were taken seriously both by the
Dutch government and by international election observers.
On May 16, 2008 the Dutch government decided that elections in the Netherlands will be held using paper ballots and red pencil only. A proposal to develop a new generation of voting computers was rejected.
Gonggrijp has worked for whistleblowing site Wikileaks
Wikileaks
WikiLeaks is an international self-described not-for-profit organisation that publishes submissions of private, secret, and classified media from anonymous news sources, news leaks, and whistleblowers. Its website, launched in 2006 under The Sunshine Press organisation, claimed a database of more...
, helping to prepare their April 2010 release of video footage from the July 12, 2007 Baghdad airstrike
July 12, 2007 Baghdad airstrike
The July 12, 2007 Baghdad airstrikes were a series of air-to-ground attacks conducted by a team of two United States Army AH-64 Apache helicopters in Al-Amin al-Thaniyah, in the district of New Baghdad in Baghdad, during the insurgency that followed the Iraq War.In the first strike "Crazyhorse 1/8"...
.
On December 14 of 2010, in relation to ongoing investigations of WikiLeaks, the US Department of Justice issued a subpoena ordering Twitter
Twitter subpoena
On 14 December 2010, the United States Department of Justice issued a subpoena accompanied by a national security letter to Twitter in relation to ongoing investigations of WikiLeaks...
to release information regarding Gonggrijp's account as well as those of Julian Assange
Julian Assange
Julian Paul Assange is an Australian publisher, journalist, writer, computer programmer and Internet activist. He is the editor in chief of WikiLeaks, a whistleblower website and conduit for worldwide news leaks with the stated purpose of creating open governments.WikiLeaks has published material...
, Bradley Manning, Birgitta Jónsdóttir
Birgitta Jónsdóttir
Birgitta Jónsdóttir is a member of parliament of Althing, the Icelandic parliament, formerly representing the Citizens' Movement, but now representing The Movement. Her district is the Reykjavík South Constituency. She was elected to the Icelandic parliament in April 2009 on behalf of a movement...
, Jacob Appelbaum
Jacob Appelbaum
Jacob Appelbaum is an independent computer security researcher and hacker. He is currently employed by the University of Washington, and is a core member of the Tor project. Appelbaum is known for representing Wikileaks at the 2010 Hope conference...
and all 637,000 users following @wikileaks.The reason is Gonggrijp's collaboration in releasing the “Collateral Murder” video in April 2010, a WikiLeaks action.
External links
- http://rop.gonggri.jp Personal blog
- History of XS4ALL
- http://www.webwereld.nl/articles/36475/de-zorgen-van-rop-gonggrijp.html (in Dutch)
- http://www.nrc.nl/W2/Lab/Netkunst/Gonggrijp/ (in Dutch)
- Interview on Voting machines (in Dutch)
- Extensive Talk with Rop Gonggrijp about his life and the hacker comunities in Holland and Germany (in German)