The DEF CON hacker conference has officially banned Vincenzo Iozzo, Joichi Ito, and Pablos Holman following the release of Justice Department documents linking them to Jeffrey Epstein. These individuals were reportedly involved in facilitating Epstein’s interest in major cybersecurity gatherings, leading to their permanent removal from the event's sanctioned attendee list.
DEF CON organizers updated their public list of banned individuals this week to include three figures recently connected to Jeffrey Epstein through a massive trove of Department of Justice files. The disclosure of approximately 3 million documents has illuminated Epstein’s persistent efforts to embed himself within the global hacker community. This decision follows long-standing scrutiny and reporting regarding the relationships between these tech figures and the convicted sex offender, signaling a move by conference leadership to distance the event from his legacy.
The individuals in question—Vincenzo Iozzo, Joichi Ito, and Pablos Holman—each have documented ties to Epstein’s attempts to navigate the cybersecurity scene. Ito, the former head of the MIT Media Lab, had previously resigned from his academic post after his financial ties to Epstein were exposed years ago. Holman was identified as a contact Epstein sought out during a 2013 trip to the conference, while Iozzo has faced recent allegations from FBI informant reports suggesting a much closer proximity to Epstein’s personal operations.
While it remains unconfirmed if Epstein ever physically stepped foot on the conference floor, the released emails and flight manifests show clear intent and logistical planning. Correspondence from 2016 and 2018 suggests that Iozzo discussed securing badges for Epstein and his associates, which allegedly included high-profile figures and several young women. These records also point to numerous planned meetings at Epstein’s private residence in New York over a four-year period.
The fallout has already impacted the professional standings of those involved. Iozzo was recently removed from the review board of Black Hat, the corporate-focused sibling conference to DEF CON, shortly after the documents became public. Despite the mounting evidence in the DOJ files, a spokesperson for Iozzo has denied that he provided Epstein with any exclusive or unauthorized access to the cybersecurity conferences.
DEF CON and Black Hat serve as the primary annual summits for the world’s researchers, government officials, and investors to discuss digital security. By issuing these bans, the organization is addressing the controversy surrounding Epstein’s historical attempts to influence and join these sensitive circles. The move reflects an ongoing effort within the tech industry to reconcile with the ethical implications of past associations revealed by the latest government disclosures.
Source: DEF CON Bans Hackers And Technologists Named In Epstein Documents