2 readings and 1 video for this week. The 2 readings were 2 websites.
No Place To Hide Website--Robert O'Harrow, Jr. and the Center for Investigative Reporting
This website has many links. The website presents multimedia investigations by news organizations working together concerning the government's expanded surveillance authorities and activities in the wake of September 11, 2001. The government uses private data collection to watch its citizens in the name of security. This site also comments on the passing of inaccurate information among government agencies.
Electronic Privacy Information Center Website
Another website with many links devoted to privacy and security issues in an electronic age. This site discusses the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and "Total or Terrorism Information Awarness" (TIA). TIA sought to establish a "grand, virtual, centralized database" by using data mining or knowledge discovery tools in order to deter terrorism. Law enforcement was suppose to be given access to private data such as the financial, medical, communication, and travel records of individuals without a suspicion of wrong doing or a warrant. This agency's funding was eliminated in 2003, but, according to this site, this did not end this type of government activity. Data mining by the government using private information databases continues.
The video was title "Is Privacy Dead" by Jeffrey Rosen. Some good points were made by Mr. Rosen concerning the design of technology to both protect privacy and aide security. He stated that surveillence issues are not technological issues but political and cultural issues. He also talked about the US governments data mining activities. He also compared policies in place in Britain and the US. He used examples of "naked machines" at Heathrow and Phoenix airports and the use of surveillance cameras through Britain. Interesting ideas on democratic and heirarchal thinking as well as classification and exclusion and cultural differences. It was interesting that cameras in Britain have not deterred crime.
Senior Computer Class 2011 Photo Album
14 years ago
4 comments:
Hey SUsanna,
I think you caught a really good point about privacy and security arguments being political and cultural issues rather than technical.
Also, as for the cameras in Britain, when they started putting them up in Philly I had heard about Britain, because the police here were touting their program as the be all end all of policework. Then, one weekend last year like 7 people were shot to death over the weekend, and I read on CNN that in London 7 people were stabbed to death (despite no guns, and cameras basically everywhere), and I figured that it wouldn't work here either. At least in london they had a chance because you have to get up close with a knife...here what's it gonna catch, an arm with a pistol? the sound of a gunshot? Oh yeah, no audio...
Hope your Thanksgiving was great!
Hi, Susanna
I agree with your comment. It's quite scary now how much information can be dug up on every citizen. But it's perhaps even scarier the reasons why, including political activity or mistaken identity. At the same time, though, I have my doubts as to whether the nature of security and surveillance has changed much since the days of J. Edgar Hoover.
Here's something very Hoover-ish from my neck of the woods. My tax dollars at work, if I lived in MD.
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