What do we classify as an "InfoSec" meetup for the purposes of this list?

[hellodanielting]

The obviously InfoSec meetups, are SecTalks and Ruxmon.
However, there are some InfoSec adjacent ( eg. Crypto Aus, Digital Privacy), and regularly discusses infosec topics despite not being explicitly InfoSec ( eg. Linux Users Victoria).

Do we include those? If so, do we attempt to categorise, the meetups? Eg. Technical, General, etc...
Thoughts @codingo @hakluke ?

[codingo]

I've been thinking about this for the conferences repository for a while. Unfortunately, at some point, our opinion comes into it.

The challenge I see is that I personally don't see a conference like AustCert to be a technical conference, but a lot of people in different disciplines do. The same challenge applies for AISA meetups. I think it needs to be done, but carefully so in order to avoid creating the wrong impressions.

Thoughts on solving this? It's bugged me for quite a while.

[hellodanielting]

This is going to be a tough one. I've opened this ticket to facilitate that discussion, as I don't think there would be an easy solution. So more a consensus driven approach.

I'm leaning towards, let's include them all, and the categorise them in some fashion that is as objective as possible. There is a lot of knowledge out there. I'd prefer to be as inclusive as possible. We already have enough of a "filter bubble" from the likes of Facebook/Twitter; so if we can be the "most complete" list, that'll be an awesome resource. Then, we/anyone can create "Recommendations" lists, based on what we/they believe is suitable for a certain audience.

I hope that having an objective approach will make this as easy as possible to maintain, with minimum controversy.

We'll also need to define what we'd consider a "meetup" for the purposes of this list.
Some examples,

• there are InfoSec support groups like AWSN which are not exactly a meetup, but do run various events.
  I believe they should be included.
• RISC/Monsec etc student groups which runs somewhat regular events & gatherings. Do we include those?
• ISC^2 and other professional bodies with InfoSec events. Do we include them?
• Do we only include free events?

Or do we simply split them up into a different list; for "groups & societies"?

I will give it more thought. But looks like this needs more discussion & feedback from the community on this. It will definitely wander into, "why are we doing this in the first place?" question territory, which we may need to tackle.

JMTC.

*I've edited this response for clarity. Writing comments while sleepy didn't help.

[hakluke]

It would be really great to find an objective way to distinguish the difference between an "infosec" meetup and a "non-infosec" meetup. Personally I don't think meetups such as generic Linux user groups should be on the list as it will create too much noise.

Some infosec cons seem more based around defense or compliance, while others are more about the offensive side of things. Maybe we could even split it up that way? I'm sure there will be some which sit in the middle though.

[0x90n]

I think any meetup with security as the focus - a generic linux group probably isn't the best target there, and if someones keen on that area they'll be able to locate it themselves. Simple threshold; are almost all their meetup events targeted towards something security? Happy to categorise as RED/BLUE/other.

In terms of University groups - absolutely do not include them in meetups; some of these are specific for the students only. Rather, let's keep these for the University and Clubs page.

[codingo]

Agreed, this thread was a long time before we had those other repositories - that's definitely the best place for university meetups now that it's established.