CryptoParty actually predates the Snowden revelations by several months, showing that this trend was already building before that important catalyst. Australian “information activist” Asher Wolf had the idea of an offline hackathon-like event to teach people basic encryption techniques. The self-organizing movement created a handbook and online wiki so that anybody who wanted to could organize their own event. The take-up was viral and in the first two months over 30 CryptoParties had been held from Reykjavik to Manila, some with over 100 people.

©flickr / Joe Hall