Hackers, Experts Meet in Berlin for Annual Congress

In Berlin’s Haus am Köllnischen Park public convention hall, the Chaos Communications Congress held its annual meeting this week for the “hands-on” generation of Internet users.

The annual congress, which is organized and maintained by the Chaos Computer Club, is renowned for its aggregation of German computer experts and hackers. The group has gathered for the meeting for 16 years.

Topics discussed at the convention were fairly broad: from technical workshops on new technologies such as IPv6, Biometrics or WAP, to critical comments about data security, governmental wiretapping attempts and privacy.

Hacker specific events included the German championship for lock picking. Even interested newbies could join in the events with courses for beginners.

The event listed a price tag of DEM 300 ($140) for corporate participants, while private citizens could join in for DEM 23 ($10) per day.