Are you sure you properly understand what "hacker" means in this context? I think it's fair to say that some people in the grey to black spectrum also attend the CCC, but overall, yes, people there are genuinely committed to free expression (by everybody, most importantly of course by innocent people). They are using the word "hacker" in the original sense of the word (tinkering with technology etc.)

What you're saying is like the false claim that Tor is only used by criminals - when in reality, it is used by all sorts of people, including law enforcement themselves!

My wife has left me. And my phone is getting surveilled. Don't ask me how I know it. What do you think I should do? - An Indian in Varanasi. BTW, there is no complaint against me and I am being visited by police every week.

Ground reality is a bitch.

Can you give a source. That looks very made-up.

What source you want? You seriously don't expect me to public my identity here, do you?

I was about to give you my case number of anticipatory bail. But seriously, what source you want?

EDIT: On more thought, if you really want to know the ground reality you can call anyone in http://www.saveindianfamily.org/ . Their Bangalore chapter know my case.

May I remind you that you are posting on a site called "Hacker News"?

Why should it be downvoted?

See my above reply https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8486513.

I would reiterate that the parent was just sensational, and it is a far cry from the surveillance done by U.S.

May I suggest that you stop using the internet until you learn to respect and appreciate the hackers who built it? You should be ashamed of your ignorance. You are launching vicious attacks on hackers, claiming we aren't human-rights activists, that we are criminals, that we are selfish, and that we aren't known for our humanitarian efforts. None of these things are true.