Behind the Machine
“The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly”
Copyright © 2008 by Helene G. Kershner
Behind the Machine:
Are computers beneficial?
Copyright © 2008 by Helene G. Kershner
Behind the Machine:
Are Computers Beneficial?
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Medical advances
Brought the world closer together
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Easy access to information
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Easy access to research
New ways of shopping
New political structures
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No time zones, not international boundaries
MoveOn.Org
Changing Nature of Work
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Information worker
Copyright © 2008 by Helene G. Kershner
Behind the Machine:
Are Computers Detrimental?
Copyright © 2008 by Helene G. Kershner
Behind the Machine:
Are Computers Detrimental?
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Loss of social community
E-commerce vs Downtown shopping center
Is Big Brother watching our every move?
Within US computer haves vs have-nots
Many countries have no computers or even electricity
Changing work expectations
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New skills
24/7 contact
Jobs moving off-shore
It’s not my “fault,” the computer made a mistake!
Copyright © 2008 by Helene G. Kershner
Behind the Machine: Do computers
make us more anonymous?
Anonymous?
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The quality or state of being anonymous, which is the condition
of having a name or identity that is unknown or concealed.
www.w3.org/2003/glossary/subglossary/ws-gloss.rdf/
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Anonymity is the state of not being identifiable within a set,
called the "anonymity set". When referring to human beings, we
say that a person is anonymous when the identity of that
person is not known.
Being anonymous usually is a result of not disclosing one's
identity. This may be simply because the person was not asked,
as in an occasional encounter between strangers, or because
the person is unable or unwilling to tell.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anonymity
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"Anonymity" and "confidentiality" do not have the same
meaning and are not interchangeable.
www.virginia.edu/vprgs/irbsbsterminology.html
Copyright © 2008 by Helene G. Kershner
Behind the Machine: Do computers
make us more anonymous?
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Why would someone want to be anonymous?
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The Founding Fathers often chose anonymity in
their protests by using pseudonyms on printed
material or not listing authorship at all.
Signing the Declaration of Independence was a
very big deal!
Is this new to the Internet?
Is Anonymity on the Internet more important than in
“real life?”
Copyright © 2008 by Helene G. Kershner
Behind the Machine: Do computers
make us more anonymous?
Anonymous Internet Services?
 Should people be able to Email and Surf the
Web anonymously?
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Anonymizer.com
Zero-Knowledge System
SafeWeb
Some of these providers use encryption
services so that even the ISP cannot identify
the user
Copyright © 2008 by Helene G. Kershner
Behind the Machine: Do computers
make us more anonymous?
Anonymous Internet Services?
 SafeWeb –
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developed tools to assist individuals living
under governments that limit Internet
access such as China, and Iran.
CIA uses SafeWeb –
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So no one knows you’re a spy!
Copyright © 2008 by Helene G. Kershner
Behind the Machine: Do computers
make us more anonymous?
Anonymity and Free Speech
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Bill of Rights protects free speech, but –
there are still times when we do not want
to be identified?
Examples?
Copyright © 2008 by Helene G. Kershner
Behind the Machine: Do computers
make us more anonymous?
Anonymity and Free Speech
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“In 1995 the Supreme Court invalidated an Ohio law
under which a women was fined for distributing pamphlets
against a proposed school tax without putting her name
on them.
The Court ruled that distribution of anonymous political
leaflets (by an individual) is an exercise of freedom of
speech protected by the First Amendment.
The Court said ‘anonymous pamphleteering is not a
pernicious, fraudulent practice, but an honorable tradition
of advocacy and of dissent. Anonymity is a shield from
the tyranny of the majority.’”
Copyright © 2008 by Helene G. Kershner
Behind the Machine: Do computers
make us more anonymous?
Anonymity and Free Speech
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As a result of this Ohio ruling, a federal court
threw out a 1996 Georgia law against using a
false identity on the Internet.
But, going to court to enforce one’s rights can
be expensive. Often the threat of legal action
shuts down free speech.
Copyright © 2008 by Helene G. Kershner
Behind the Machine: Do computers
make us more anonymous?
Anonymity and Free Speech
The ability to post anonymously is
good.
Is it?
Is it always good?
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How do we filter truth from fiction?
How do we protect ourselves from libel or
defamation of character?
Copyright © 2008 by Helene G. Kershner
Behind the Machine: Do computers
make us more anonymous?
Anonymity and Free Speech
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“Because of its potential to shield criminal activity or
because they consider it “ bad netiquette” some
services choose to discourage or prohibit anonymity.
Some require identification of all members and users.
Some do not accept any e-mail from known
anonymous re-mailer sites.
On the other hand, Web sites that emphasize debate
on controversial issues or have discussion groups on
socially sensitive topics often consider anonymity to
be a reasonable way to protect privacy and
encourage open, honest discussion.
Copyright © 2008 by Helene G. Kershner
Behind the Machine: Do computers
make us more anonymous?
Anonymity and Free Speech
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Anonymity on the Internet issued for criminal
and antisocial purposes including the
planning of terrorist attacks.
Law enforcement officials argue for laws that
require ISPs to maintain records of the true
identity of each user and to maintain records
of online activity for a specific period of time
for potential use in criminal investigations
Copyright © 2008 by Helene G. Kershner
Behind the Machine: Do computers
make us more anonymous?
Anonymity and Free Speech
Protecting the Many from the Few
This Can limit Free Speech because the
basic rules of our legal system change!
To do so – we become
Innocent until proven guilty
Copyright © 2008 by Helene G. Kershner