DEF CON bans three Epstein-linked men from future events

DEF CON has taken a decisive stand against ethical breaches in tech leadership by banning three individuals with documented ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Pablos Holman (Deep Future VC), Vincenzo Iozzo (SlashID CEO), and Joichi Ito (Chiba Institute of Technology president) are now prohibited from attending future conferences following revelations from Epstein's email archives.

The ban stems from extensive email evidence showing all three maintained professional relationships with Epstein throughout the 2010s. Holman exchanged emails with Epstein as early as 2010, arranging meetings at Epstein's New York residence and introducing him to tech figures who allegedly manipulated search results to bury negative coverage. Iozzo offered Epstein DEF CON tickets and maintained contact between 2014-2018, while Ito facilitated introductions between Epstein and other technologists and accepted $1.7 million in Epstein-funded donations to MIT's Media Lab.

Though none face criminal charges, DEF CON organizers determined these associations violated community ethical standards. "Contact with the sex offender provided a rationale for the sanction," organizers stated, positioning the decision within broader tech industry accountability movements. This marks the first public ban list expansion since 2017, with only six other individuals previously named.

The decision carries significant implications for tech governance:

1. Reputational Accountability: Conferences now face pressure to scrutinize attendees' professional associations, extending beyond legal compliance to ethical alignment
2. Funding Transparency: Ito's case highlights how venture capital and academic funding sources require greater due diligence, particularly concerning controversial figures
3. Community Standards: DEF CON's stance establishes precedent for private organizations to enforce consequences for enabling problematic networks, echoing data protection principles like GDPR's "integrity and confidentiality" requirements

Iozzo's spokesperson criticized the ban as "entirely performative," claiming minimal conference attendance and no FBI investigation. However, DEF CON maintains undisclosed "many bans" reflect consistent enforcement.

For transparency, all relevant Epstein emails are accessible through JMail.world – a project parsing the DOJ's raw data into searchable format. This incident signals growing industry intolerance for associations facilitating abuse networks, compelling tech leaders to audit their professional connections as rigorously as their data privacy practices.