hackersonthehill.org

What It Is

Hackers on the Hill is an all-volunteer cybersecurity policy exchange initiative run by I Am The Cavalry since 2017. Its core goal is to bring “hackers”—that is, cybersecurity researchers and practitioners—and policymakers into the same room for direct dialogue on cybersecurity policy. According to the page, the project has expanded from Washington, DC in the United States to Ottawa in Canada and London in the United Kingdom, with events planned for the Netherlands and Washington, DC in 2026.

Core Capabilities and Communications Angle

From a communications/email category perspective, this is not an email, SMS, voice, or IM service provider, nor does it offer bulk messaging, notifications, API calls, phone number coverage, delivery monitoring, or similar capabilities. Its form of “connection” is primarily offline and event-based, including plenary sessions, meetings with policy offices, policy workshops, and Cyber Policy Shark Tank. Topics covered include artificial intelligence, critical infrastructure, IoT, encryption, privacy, ransomware, vulnerability disclosure, and supply chain security.

Pricing and Compliance

The page does not disclose registration fees or ticket prices, so pricing cannot be assessed. It explicitly emphasizes that no one gets paid, no one's selling anything, and describes itself as a non-commercial event. It also prohibits self-promotion, sales pitches, lobbying, corporate sponsorship, and activities for private gain. In terms of compliance and community governance, it sets restrictions around harassment, intimidation, people involved in cybercrime, and disruptive behavior, while emphasizing inclusion, respect, collaboration, and a high-trust environment.

Pros and Cons

Its strengths are a very clear positioning and its suitability for bringing real technical experience into policy discussions. The volunteer-run, non-commercial model also helps reduce marketing noise. It also provides preparation materials such as a briefing guide, past YouTube recordings, and policy communication guidance. The limitations are also clear: it is not a purchasable communications infrastructure service, and it provides none of the usual industry metrics such as pricing, delivery rates, SLA, APIs, integrations, or payment methods. Participation is also affected by location, venue, and capacity, and the organizing format may vary by region.

Who It’s For and Access from China

It is suitable for security researchers who want to take part in public policy discussions, technical professionals working around policy, and policymakers who need to understand technical risks. It is not suitable as a replacement for email notifications, SMS verification codes, voice outbound calling, or IM channels. The page does not mention access from mainland China, payment methods, or remote participation arrangements, so access from China is unknown. If you need communications or email services, choose a dedicated email API, SMS, or enterprise IM platform instead.