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2026-03-31

Update

This post is strictly superceded by the following post, which is newer and better IMO: Morality of cyberhacking versus social engineering versus whistleblowing

2026-02-23

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I seem to feel even worse about espionage aka social engineering, than I do about cyberhacking. Unsure why. Want to figure out what are my moral values around both of these.
Cyberhacking feels transparent. Like, I am telling people openly they are my enemy, and I am going to break into their computer systems, and leak redacted info that will damage their reputation. I don't think cyberhacking and leaking redacted info is that much worse than waiting for a whistleblower to send you info and then leaking redacted info. Most people in the public seem to have different moral intuitions on this than I do.
Social engineering and espionage feels a lot more deceptive. For instance, pretending to be a good employee and getting myself hired at an AI company. Or befriending an employee, getting into their house and then sticking some malware USB stick into their PC.
I wonder if this is just my personal moral intuition, or do others agree?
Maybe it just boils down to - I care more about truth and knowledge, than I care about empathy or people.
I want to build a reputation, both with myself and with other people, than I am someone who always speaks truth.
I am less interested in building a reputation of being completely non-violent. I am not that non-violent. I am fine making Sam Altman suffer for instrumental political reasons.

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