DEF CON Conference Transparency Report

Since DEF CON 25, we have started to share a summary of incidents we are aware of that happened at the convention for a given year.



My hope is that by doing this DEF CON will encourage other conventions to duplicate this reporting and share their data so collectivly we can shed some light on the challenge we face in creating more safe and inclusive events.



- The Dark Tangent

DEF CON 27

Estimated number of people : 30k+

Announced at closing ceremonies August 11, 2019

# Description

6 Harassment

1 Sexual Assault

2 Theft/Loss

3 Bans/Trespasses

2 Falling Ceiling

2 Foiled Attacks on Casino

1 Biblical Grasshopper Plague

2 Warnings Issued to Our Staff

1 Staff Member Dismissed

5 Drunk and Disorderly

5 Photo Policy Complaints

1 Media Company Ejected

1 Hotel Safety-Security Issue

1 Failed Troll Attempt/ Self Own

Support Line Stats

Available each day of the conference rom 0800-0400

Completely anonymous

Trained community volunteers

# Description

29 Total Calls

12 Code of Conduct Reports

5 Referrals to Para-Professional Counseling

1 Legal Issue

1 Person Trapped Back of House

DEF CON 26

Estimated number of people: 28,000+

Announced at closing ceremonies August 12th, 2018

# Description

3 Harassment

7 Sexual Harassment

1 Sexual Assault



7 Medical Incidents

2 Theft

3 Vandalism

1 Tresspassing

1 Falling Ceiling

1 Badge Makers Exonerated

1 Attacks On Casino Foiled

1 Dust Storms / Flash Flood

1 Other Event’s Attendees Claiming We Hacked Them

1 Warnings Issued To Our Staff

Support Line Stats

Available each day of the conference from 08:00 to 04:00

Completely anonymous

Trained community volunteers

# Description

62 Total Calls

42 General Information Calls

3 Harassment Calls

5 Sexual Harassment Calls

1 Medical Help Calls

1 Concern Over Drink Tampering

DEF CON 25

Estimated number of people: 25,000+

Announced at closing ceremonies July 30th 2017

# Description

7 Harassment reports (Code of Conduct violations) including:

2 People banned for life due to harassing women

1 Person banned for life for harassing hotel staff

1 Person fled before we could identify and ban them for harassing a woman

9 Medical incidents leading to 4 hospital transports

3 Thefts

1 Vicious Dog report

3 Adorable Dog reports

3 Vandalism to DEF CON or hotel property

2 Trespass on hotel property

2 People un-banned for life by the hotel

Notes:

A DEF CON ban is a prohibition against a person or group from attending future conventions due to bad behavior. DEF CON conveys the information to the hotel and if a banned person returns they will be "trespassed" by hotel security and possibly prosecuted.

A hotel ban is a ban instituted by the hotel for bad behavior against the hotel or its interests and is outside of our control. You anger the hotel, you deal with the hotel.

Other notable bans:

DEF CON also monitors news reports and community forums for potential bad actors to exclude from our conventions, like we did with Jake Applebaum, John Draper aka Captain Crunch, and Morgan Marquis-Boire, who have all been banned.