Hacking conference Def Con bans three people linked to Epstein

Def Con bans three Epstein associates

Def Con officials banned three prominent technology figures from the annual hacking conference on Wednesday following new revelations about their ties to Jeffrey Epstein. The conference added Pablos Holman, Vincenzo Iozzo, and Joichi Ito to its public list of prohibited individuals. Organizers cited recent Department of Justice filings and investigative reporting as the primary reasons for the permanent ban.

The decision stems from a series of documents released by the Department of Justice related to the investigation of Epstein, a convicted sex offender who died in 2019. Def Con also referenced an article from Politico that detailed specific email exchanges between the three men and Epstein. The conference maintains a strict policy regarding the conduct and associations of its attendees and speakers.

Def Con founder Jeff Moss stated that the organization reviewed the emerging evidence before making the decision to bar the trio. While Epstein himself was rumored to have interests in the hacking community, Moss noted that there is no record of Epstein ever attending the event. The ban serves as a formal distancing of the cybersecurity community from individuals linked to Epstein’s social and professional circles.

Vincenzo Iozzo faces industry fallout

Vincenzo Iozzo is a high-profile cybersecurity veteran and the current CEO of the identity startup SlashID. He previously served as a director at CrowdStrike, a position he attained after the security giant acquired his startup, IperLane, in 2017. Iozzo has been a fixture at major security conferences for nearly two decades.

The ban from Def Con follows similar actions taken by other major industry events. Both Black Hat and Code Blue recently removed Iozzo from their official review boards. These boards are responsible for vetting the technical presentations that define the schedule for the world’s most prestigious security gatherings.

Records indicate that Iozzo interacted with Epstein between 2014 and 2018. This timeline is significant because it includes the years following the Miami Herald investigation that brought new allegations of abuse to light. Iozzo previously told reporters that his interactions were strictly limited to business discussions and market trends.

Spokespeople call the ban performative

Joan Vollero, a spokesperson for Iozzo, criticized Def Con’s decision in a public statement. Vollero described the ban as entirely performative because Iozzo has rarely attended the conference in the last 20 years. The statement characterized the move as a rush to judgment that did not involve a private investigation by the conference organizers.

Iozzo maintains that he never observed or participated in any illegal behavior during his time with Epstein. He claims the meetings focused on potential business opportunities that never actually materialized. His legal and PR representatives argue that his professional reputation is being unfairly targeted by the conference's public announcement.

Def Con representatives have not yet responded to requests for a detailed breakdown of their internal review process. The conference typically manages its "banned" list with a high degree of autonomy. This list is often used to exclude individuals who violate the event's code of conduct or whose presence is deemed detrimental to the community.

The MIT Media Lab connection

Joichi Ito’s inclusion on the list ties back to one of the most significant scandals in academic history. Ito served as the director of the MIT Media Lab until his forced resignation in 2019. His departure followed reports that he accepted millions of dollars in donations from Epstein despite knowing about Epstein's 2008 conviction.

Ito’s relationship with Epstein was both professional and personal. He reportedly allowed Epstein to invest in his own outside venture capital funds while simultaneously funneling Epstein’s money into the Media Lab. MIT’s internal investigation later found that Ito and other administrators went to great lengths to conceal Epstein’s identity as a donor.

Iozzo also had ties to the Media Lab during Ito’s tenure. He served as a research affiliate at the lab, and the two men appear together in several email chains with Epstein. These emails suggest a level of coordination regarding technology investments and social gatherings that the hacking community now finds unacceptable.

Pablos Holman and reputation management

Pablos Holman is a general partner at the venture capital firm Deep Future and a well-known figure in the "futurist" speaker circuit. Holman’s communications with Epstein date back to at least 2010. Email records show that Holman planned to stay at one of Epstein’s New York City apartments in 2013.

The most damaging allegations against Holman involve his attempts to assist Epstein with his public image. Holman reportedly discussed using technical methods to hide negative news stories about Epstein’s criminal history from search engine results. This type of "reputation management" is a direct violation of the ethical standards many in the Def Con community advocate for.

In 2013, Epstein allegedly made plans to attend Def Con as Holman’s guest. While it remains unclear if Epstein actually walked the floor of the Rio Hotel in Las Vegas that year, the intent to bring him into the fold is what prompted the current ban. Holman has not issued a formal statement regarding the Def Con decision.

Epstein's history of tech influence

Jeffrey Epstein spent decades cultivating a network of scientists, hackers, and tech executives. He used his wealth to fund research projects and provide seed capital for startups, often buying his way into elite circles. His 2008 conviction for soliciting sex from minors in Florida did little to deter many in the tech industry from associating with him.

• 2008: Epstein pleads guilty to state charges in Florida and registers as a sex offender.
• 2010-2018: Epstein maintains active social and financial ties with prominent hackers and VCs.
• July 2019: Federal prosecutors in New York charge Epstein with sex trafficking of minors.
• August 2019: Epstein dies in federal custody at the Metropolitan Correctional Center.
• 2024: Def Con and Black Hat purge Epstein-linked individuals from their organizations.

The cybersecurity industry is currently undergoing a period of self-correction regarding these legacy ties. Conferences like Def Con are increasingly pressured to vet their leadership and speakers for historical associations with bad actors. This move signals that the "no questions asked" culture of early hacking conferences is officially over.

The impact on cybersecurity culture

Def Con is often referred to as "hacker summer camp," attracting over 30,000 attendees annually. Its influence on the cybersecurity industry is massive, as it serves as a primary networking hub for government agencies, private security firms, and independent researchers. A ban from this event is a significant professional blow that carries heavy social weight.

The removal of Iozzo from the Black Hat review board is perhaps even more consequential for his career. Black Hat is the corporate counterpart to Def Con, where the industry’s most serious technical research is debuted. Being stripped of a board seat suggests that the industry's corporate sponsors are no longer willing to tolerate the PR risk associated with the Epstein investigation.

Def Con’s public list of banned individuals is rarely updated with such high-profile names. Usually, the list is reserved for those who commit physical harassment or theft at the event. By adding Holman, Iozzo, and Ito, the conference is expanding its definition of "conduct" to include the ethical implications of professional associations outside the conference walls.

Ongoing investigations into tech ties

The Department of Justice continues to process files related to the Epstein estate. These documents have already led to the resignation of several high-ranking executives across the finance and technology sectors. Def Con’s move may be the first of many as more names are identified in the Politico reports and DOJ filings.

Journalists and activists are currently using Signal and other encrypted platforms to gather more information about Epstein’s reach into the hacking world. The goal is to identify other individuals who may have provided technical services or legitimacy to Epstein during his years as a fugitive from public opinion. Def Con has encouraged anyone with relevant information to come forward.

For now, the three men remain persona non grata in the hacking community. Their names will likely stay on the banned list indefinitely, serving as a permanent record of the conference's stance. The cybersecurity world is moving to ensure that the darker elements of its history do not dictate its future.