chris_pooleNEW YORK – Time calls it a stunning result, and indeed it is, though for reasons that can only further confound and enrage a nation of corporate control freaks who look to the future and see a world in which no one has any control, not even moot (pictured). Indeed, the future has already arrived.

The story of how Time Magazine’s annual 100 poll, which also crowns the World’s Most Influential Person, was hacked and reassembled by a crew from the winner’s own turf –  the random board at 4chan.org also known as /b/ – has been widely circulated in the week since it happened. Time even acknowledged the breach as has the LA Times.

And Twitter is still atwitter over its own security breaches this week in which some accounts had been hacked, and some personal information, including at least one employee email compromised. A French hacker named Hacker Croll took credit. 4chan also reportedly tried to influence the CNN/Kutcher Twitter Off, but failed. Still, with two serious and widely-reported security breaches at Twitter in the past two weeks, the company says it will commission a third-party security firm to audit and implement “additional anti-intrusion measures to further safeguard user data.”

The details of the Time attack have been assembled on the Music Machinery blog, where Paul Lamere lays out the timeline and techniques of a precision hack that reads like a crime story. What comes through most vividly in the account is the determination, coordination and technical proficiency of hackers. Time admits their techincal team derailed several attempts to hack the voting process, but stops short of admitting they were unable to control the final outcome. To do so publicly would have conceded something the media giant could never admit – its vulnerability.

The larger question, not just for the media but for all people who count on the integrity of these networks, is the extent to which integrity exists at all. Ulimately, doubt in the veracity of data leads to an erosion trust and a sense of safety, which is exactly why so many lawmakers are concerned about cyber-security. Whether because of hoologanism or actual terrorism, the systematic erosion of trust in the ability of orgainzation, governments or networks to do what they say then can do is more than a little troubling to those who think we may still need them.

But even if we don’t, as we move ever closer to technology-driven solutions to direct democracy, one has to wonder, if it is this much fun to alter the results of Time Magazine’s annual Top 100 poll, how much fun would it be to alter the results of local or state elections, or even better, the presidential election?

Judging from how quickly and effortlessly the 4chan gang coalesced around the idea of hacking the Time poll and then brought their resources successfully to bear to do it, state registrars may continue to use paper ballots for many years to come.