> They basically becomes part informer and part subject expert, especially since IT security expertise seems to be a difficult subject matter to teach in univer

> They basically becomes part informer and part subject expert, especially since IT security expertise seems to be a difficult subject matter to teach in universities. I don't think the argument they can act as an informer for things going on inside government agencies works. They've never been on the inside. And I don't see what it has to do with IT security. What are they doing that's security related? Isn't what they're claiming to be doing pretty much data analysis? The only overlapping skill I can see is a willingness to exfiltrate data, if they're doing that, without giving consideration to the rules or consequences.