☠️ “Hack the System – At Least a Little”: Why Precision Matters in the 21st Century
A journalistic and editorial assessment of the presentation by Schoresch Davoodi (Pirate Party) at the Hack the Promise Festival 2025, Basel
Where does freedom end when algorithms decide? How do you hack power without taking it over? These core questions were the focus of this year’s “Hack the Promise 2025.” A highlight: the keynote speech by Schoresch Davoodi, Board Member of the Pirate Party International (PPI), who redefined the attitude of the “Hacker” – as a necessary tool for democratic resilience.
From Radical Upheaval to Precision: The New Hacker Stance
by Schoresch Davoodi
In his presentation, Davoodi spanned the arc from the idealised freedom myths of the turn of the millennium (from “The Matrix” to net culture) to the present, where sovereignty over technology and discourses is fiercely contested.
While the revolutionary dreams of a fresh start and radical upheaval, Davoodi posits that the attitude of the hacker is paramount today:
“Only those who understand systems can safely change them – and preserve freedom within them.”
The core message: True change doesn’t need “arsonists,” but people who understand, analyse, and deliberately improve existing systems, rather than just tearing them down. Anyone serious about political change must endure complexity – and face new challenges with the spirit of the Enlightenment: Sapere aude – dare to use your own understanding.
Between Filter Bubble and Digital Attack
The threats to democracy are more diverse than ever in 2025: Digital violence, disinformation, and targeted manipulation are not just isolated incidents but systematically undermine the foundations of democracy.
Davoodi warned not only against the lure of authoritarian simplifications but also against a “dogma-driven politics” within progressive movements. A critical perspective was directed at the role of NGOs, think tanks, and activist networks:
- The Filter Bubble Effect: Those who conduct debates only through their own “filter bubble” risk narrowing plurality instead of courageously expanding it.
- The Demand: Those who remain critically aware of their own filters protect democratic diversity and self-determination.
The “Inner Hack”: More Than Just Net Policy
How must this hacker ethos become politically concrete? Davoodi outlined a practice that goes beyond mere symbolic politics:
| Hacker Practice | Political Implementation |
| Precision | Carefully formulated, relatable motions instead of purely demonstrative symbolic politics. |
| Openness | Establishment of open debate spaces that allow risk-benefit analyses and do not become paralysed by moral grandstanding. |
| Collaboration | Cross-border cooperation, as practiced within the framework of Pirate Parties International. |
The “inner hack” thus means: enduring complexity, opposing propaganda, and viewing maturity and resilience as central political tools. That is democracy in action.
Conclusion: The Small Hack for Great Freedom
Schoresch Davoodi’s presentation is not a manifesto for upheaval, but an invitation to enlightened further thought. In the face of global uncertainties and hybrid threats, the Pirate Party 2025 is increasingly focusing on resilience, strengthening critical infrastructures, and a democratically legitimised security architecture – expressly without serving authoritarian tendencies.
The future belongs to those who have the courage to work on systems precisely, objectively, and openly – and never lose sight of freedom as a core value.
Key Quote: “The revolutionary dreams of a blank slate; the hacker repairs the existing system with precision and courage.”
In this spirit: Hack the System. At least a little – whenever it is most urgently needed.
Would you like me to summarise this British English article into a short, punchy version suitable for a social media post?
