The Hacker Tool Law in Effect

Over at the Make blog, Bre wrote:

Today in Germany the Hacker Tool Law goes into effect. With the official name of Paragraph 202C it states that it is illegal to possess, use, produce, or distribute a “hacker tool”.

In theory, law enforcement could come and arrest everyone here at Chaos Communications Camp. A group of hackers gathered in solidarity to protest this law. In theory, law enforcement could come and arrest everyone here at Chaos Communications Camp. Hackers in Germany have been protesting the making of this law for the past year and are stunned that it passed and has gone into effect.

The term “hacker tool” is left vague. Nmap or other network monitoring system could fall into this category. Software likeKismac, a wifi detection software, closed down today. Phenoelit, a hacker group, also closed down shop and saying goodbye to Germany.