# 24 hours, geeks galore and a common cause of tackling corruption: HAC 2012 URL: https://www.transparency.org/en/news/24-hours-geeks-galore-and-a-common-cause-of-tackling-corruption-hac-2012 Type: News Published: 2012-10-19 Updated: 2019-11-19 --- ![](https://images.transparencycdn.org/images/hac2012_bogotagroup_620.jpg?auto=compress&fit=crop&fm=webp&w=620&h=348.75) 19 October 2012 Corruption ruins lives. Technology can save lives. Websites like [ipaidabribe.com](http://ipaidabribe.com/) in India or the use of Twitter during the [Arab Spring](http://blog.transparency.org/2011/11/30/corruption-perceptions-index-2011-corruption-and-the-arab-world/) have shown how technology can be a potent tool for people power. We believe that technological solutions can help assure more transparent use of public funds, enable citizens to monitor and report the abuse of entrusted power, and engage millions of people in the fight against corruption. This is why we want to foster stronger links with the many Information Technology (IT) communities that are currently reshaping people’s everyday lives. Around our movement, we began exploring ways to encourage technological innovation and harness the power of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in the fight against corruption. The result? Our first global hackathon. ### Hacks around the world A [hackathon](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hackathon) is an event where thematic experts work side-by-side with software developers for 24 hours to come up with solutions to a diverse array of problems that have been identified. ![Hackathon buttons](/images/uploads/feature/hac2012_hackathonbuttons_150.jpg "Image courtesy Transparency International Indonesia") [HAC 2012](/hackathon) (Hacks against Corruption) was held the first weekend of October. Organised by Transparency International chapters in [Colombia](http://www.transparenciacolombia.org.co/), [Hungary](http://www.transparency.hu/en), [Indonesia](http://www.ti.or.id/en/), [Lithuania](http://www.transparency.lt/new/index.php), [Morocco](http://www.transparencymaroc.ma/) and [Russia](http://transparency.org.ru/en/) in partnership with [Random Hacks of Kindness](http://www.rhok.org/) (RHoK) and dozens of other organisations and corporations, this global hackathon was a milestone in our work. In the weeks leading up to HAC 2012, we received [36 challenging problem statements from 21 different chapters](http://blog.transparency.org/2012/10/05/hackers-use-technology-to-fight-corruption/) around the world. They ranged from using ICT in election monitoring to engaging youth in anti-corruption activities or tracking money used to thwart the impacts of climate change. More than 200 programmers and developers went without sleep that weekend to come up with tangible and sustainable solutions to the submitted problems. So, what went on at HAC 2012? ![HAC 2012 in Bogota, Colombia](/images/uploads/feature/hac2012_bogotawhiteboard_250.jpg "Image from the Bogotá hackathon, saying 'Anti-corruption struggle + technology + ideas = HAC 2012'. Image courtesy Transparencia por Colombia") #### Coding in Colombia In Colombia, Transparencia por Colombia organised the hackathon in a partnership with RHoK Bogotá, [Telefonica](http://www.telefonica.co/), [Movistar](http://www.movistar.co/), [Wayra Colombia](http://co.wayra.org/), [Microsoft](http://www.microsoft.com/es-co/default.aspx) and [Publik](http://www.publik.co/). In a [24 hour sprint](http://blog.transparency.org/2012/10/16/hacking-against-corruption/) that was [live-streamed](http://bambuser.com/channel/HACBogota?page_user_broadcasts=0) on the web, the winners developed a web and mobile citizen tool called **[Participa.co](http://reportaco.herokuapp.com/reportes)** to report electoral advertising for the 2014 national elections. Another project, **[Ciudadamos](http://www.ciudadamos.org/)**, focused on graphing information collected from [Cuentas Claras](http://www.cnecuentasclaras.com/) ('clear accounts'), a Colombian website that tracks funds in political campaigns. Part of the aim is to spark a review of advertising expenditure in campaigns for public office. The Bogotá hackers also developed a prototype [online platform](http://www.rhok.org/solutions/hacguatin) for tracking citizens’ corruption complaints on their way through Guatemalan public agencies. ![HAC 2012 in Budapest](/images/uploads/feature/hac2012_budapestpresentation_250.jpg "An idea presented to the hackers in Budapest. Image courtesy Transparency International Hungary") #### Beautiful data in Budapest In Budapest, the event was part of the [Data is Beautiful](http://dib.kibu.hu/english.html) conference where hackers developed face-based [data visualisation](http://www.rhok.org/solutions/youth-and-corruption-hackathon-budapest-ti-kibu) for our Hungarian chapter’s [youth integrity survey](http://www.transparency.hu/uploads/docs/Youth_Integrity_Survey_Hungary_EN_final.345.pdf). The coders also introduced several game concepts, including **[Cheat or Starve](http://www.rhok.org/solutions/cheat-or-starve)**, a small mobile app used to illustrate how corruption undermines a community. The Budapest participants also spawned a **[Corruption City Guided Tour](http://www.rhok.org/solutions/concept-hac-budapest-2012)** for mobile phones. ![A hacker sharing the latest from the event in Casablanca](/images/uploads/feature/hac2012_casacomputer_250.jpg "A hacker sharing the latest from the event in Casablanca. Image courtesy Transparency International Morocco") #### Creating a complaints mechanism in Casablanca The hackathon in Casablanca was a side event of a big social media event called [@citvate](/news/feature/activate_online_activists_gather_in_morocco) organised by our Moroccan chapter. The hackers worked on an Online Platform for Citizens Against Corruption, or OPAC. This website aims to allow people to file corruption-related complaints both on- and offline, and will offer a follow-up feature for complaints in conjunction with two different platforms, [www.mamdawrinch.com](http://www.mamdawrinch.com/) (‘I will not bribe’) and a local legal aid website. ![Jakarta hackathon participants](/images/uploads/feature/hac2012_jakartagroup_250.jpg "The participants in the Jakarta hackathon. Image courtesy Transparency International Indonesia") #### ICT innovations in Indonesia At the start of “Hacks against Corruption” in Jakarta, we asked hackers to raise their hands so that everyone in the room could see the heroes of the event. Just three of the more than 20 assembled hackers put their hands up – ‘hacker’ is an unpopular word in the local context, where tech specialists prefer to be called developers, programmers, designers and even IT geeks. Whatever their preferred title, their dedication to anti-corruption was outstanding. Five tools were developed in Jakarta: **iFight and iConfess**, a mobile app that allows users to post incidents; **Hospital Watch**, a web platform aiming to improve health services through user feedback; **[Cherrybelle](http://second-platform.com/korupsi)**, a corruption reporting and collaboration system; **Merdeka**, a web tool for monitoring the public courts that allows users to track the progress of cases and give their opinions on the fairness of the verdicts; and **Jaya**, a handy customisation of the open source [Ushahidi](http://www.ushahidi.com/) platform for reporting and publishing corruption cases. ![Hackers in Moscow](/images/uploads/feature/hac2012_moscowhackers_250.jpg "Coding away at the Moscow hackathon. Image courtesy Transparency International Russia") #### Hacking against harassment in Moscow Despite the recent political developments and shrinking space for civil society in Russia, we also had a successful event in Moscow. Colleagues from Azerbaijan and Montenegro flew to Moscow and worked with Russian developers to tackle issues as diverse as illegal construction, freedom of information requests and sexual harassment. One of the tools developed in Moscow was [**Stop Harassment!**](http://women-harassment.wix.com/start#!home/mainPage), a platform for women to report instances of harassment or gender-based corruption and violence in a confidential and anonymous manner. With this tool, our chapter in Azerbaijan aims not only to bring relief to the victims, but also to increase government responsiveness to handling harassment concerns from women in Baku and beyond. ![The hackathon in Vilnius](/images/uploads/feature/hac2012_vilniushackers_250.jpg "Participants in the Vilnius hackathon. Image courtesy Transparency International Lithuania") #### Digging out data in Vilnius In Vilnius, our colleagues from Transparency International Lithuania wanted to give a more positive spin to the event and branded it “Hacks for Transparency”. This brought together developers and anti-corruption experts from Estonia, Georgia, Italy, Kenya, Latvia, Portugal, Ukraine, the United States and of course Lithuania. One of the event’s themes was working with difficult data formats, as two of our chapters were struggling with data published by their governments in un-searchable, un-usable formats – at the hackathon, Georgia built a tool to scrape procurement data and Latvia (the winner) worked on making asset declarations available to investigative journalists. In addition, our Ukrainian chapter worked on a [tool](http://hft2012.fm.to.it/) to promote ethical behavior and alternatives to corrupt practices among doctors. ### From prototype to people power After a weekend of intense work, sleep deprivation, frenzied tweeting and fruitful sharing and refining of ideas, much was achieved. But there is still a long way to go to get these prototypes up and running so they are of use to the public. The hackers and the corruption fighters came away from the hackathon bleary eyed but incredibly enthusiastic. They are full of plans to launch their new applications and see them serve the cause of combating corruption and promoting integrity. What we have are seeds that we will now plant in several countries around the world. Let’s see which ones grow and gift the fruit of people power. ### Resources - [See all the problem statements from Hacks against Corruption 2012](/hackathon) - [Read a blog post from one of the global hackathon's organisers](http://blog.transparency.org/2012/10/05/hackers-use-technology-to-fight-corruption/) - [Read a first-hand account from the hackathon in Bogotá](http://blog.transparency.org/2012/10/16/hacking-against-corruption/) ## Countries - [Colombia](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/colombia) - [Hungary](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/hungary) - [Indonesia](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/indonesia) - [Lithuania](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/lithuania) - [Morocco](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/morocco) - [Russia](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/russia) For any press inquiries please contact ### You might also like... ## [Anti-corruption gaps are leaving democracy in Europe exposed](https://www.transparency.org/en/news/anti-corruption-gaps-leaving-democracy-europe-exposed) News • 15 September 2026 Too many European countries are failing to effectively implement and enforce their anti-corruption laws, while several are rapidly backsliding. ## [Who really owns it? 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