The Price of Freedoms David Davenport Computer Engineering
- Slides: 10
The Price of Freedoms David Davenport Computer Engineering Dept. , Bilkent University, Ankara 06533 - Turkey http: //www. cs. bilkent. edu. tr/~david email: david@cs. bilkent. edu. tr
Introduction FHold certain rights & freedoms • but not absolute, could disappear! FInternet unleashing rapid change • anti-establishment, free speech culture • cornerstone is anonymous communications FArgue that • the price of freedoms, is not anonymity, but accountability!
Social Stability FLiving together benefits individual FIndividual contribute to society FFree & fair society - must balance • must be seen & know who infringes! FGovernment & Courts FAccountability • Imbalances? Is it necessary? F“Acceptable” depends on norms of society
Anonymity - Benefits? FAccountability implies identifiability • antithesis of anonymity! FWhy support anonymity on Internet? FClaimed Benefits of anonymity • • • freedom of speech, whistle-blowing, witness/wife battering/child protection open/freer discussion, w/o prejudice protects privacy elections, …
Anonymity - Costs? FBut… • “invitation” to anti-social behaviour & crime (viruses, spam, DOS attacks, libel, theft, identity theft, copyright infringement, etc. ) • lose right to freedom of speech! • doesn’t stop free speech. Encourage “good” • changing norms! • open discussion doesn’t need full anonymity F&. . .
Accountable Anonymity FMessenger knows source - but won’t tell! FTraceability - for people & documents! FRelies on trust • already trust to convey messages reliably, w/o modification or deletion, keep contents private. FInternet distrust (government!) • anonymizers! • Recourse to law (& lobbying/voting)
Anonymity - the real cost! FIf anonymity is acceptable then the government could use it too! Frisk losing • all recourse to the law • all our rights and freedoms • changing norms!
Privacy FFreedom from intrusion & hiding of info. • (c. f. anonymity - naming/identifying) FExpectations vary widely! FWhy worry? Home/Info. FInternet concerns • Hacking & collecting info. FSolution - not anonymity! • data islands?
Copyright FIntellectual property • inventions, books, pictures, music FTechnology makes it easy to copy! FInternet & MP 3’s FReward authors for cultural input? FNew solutions? Pay per-copy/per-use
Concluding Remarks FInternet culture promotes anonymity FSocial stability • recourse to the Law • Accountability - Identifiability - antithesis of anonymity! FOld problems - new solutions? FUnderstand & educate… FThe genie is free!
