Hackers On Planet Earth is back in Manhattan next month

- HOPE (Hackers On Planet Earth) is a biennial hacker conference founded in 1994 by the late Emmanuel Goldstein (publisher of 2600: The Hacker Quarterly). It's one of the longest-running major hacker gatherings in the US, drawing technologists, security researchers, activists, and policy thinkers. - The conference returns to New York City (traditionally held at Hotel Pennsylvania, which closed in 2022; recent editions have moved to a Manhattan venue) and serves as a community hub for discussions on cybersecurity, digital rights, surveillance, cryptography, and hacker culture. - HOPE is distinct from larger industry events like DEF CON or Black Hat — it's non-commercial, volunteer-run, and has a strong political/civil-liberties bent. Previous speakers have included Edward Snowden (via video link), whistleblowers, and legal advocates. - The event matters because it reflects how the hacker community in the US continues to organize itself around both technical craft and political advocacy, at a time when surveillance law, encryption debates, and AI policy are rapidly evolving.