http://ils.unc.edu/inls187/notes/...

Garfinkel Endgame

Finishing DeCSS et al.
  • Online archive of an October 1 debate between Lawrence Lessig (Harvard law prof) and Jack Valenti (president of the MPAA)

Kooks & Terrorists
  • Is this really something to worry about? What is the trade-off between security and an open society? Will the trade-off really help security?
  • In whose interest is it to foster fear of terrorism? In whose interest is complacency?
  • How fragile is the information infrastructure? What are the possible targets for information warfare?
  • p. 228: "the problem, then, isn't that the FBI and other organizations don't legitimately need new powers to fight new threats. The problem is that the FBI, and the country at large, have shown a willingness to get caught up in the issues of the day and unfairly target, prosecute and imprison individuals for what they say and believe, rather than what they actually do."
  • How hard is it to get information about bomb making and other methods of destruction? Try here

Garfinkel's conclusion
  • p. 257: "No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honor and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks." Universal Declaration of Human Rights (U.N.)
  • Is the U.S. really the home of privacy threats, as Garfinkel charges?
  • Of all Garfinkel's suggestions, which seem likely to occur? Which are most desirable?
  • Follow-up: Garfinkel's article in Salon about his experiences before congress.

Beyond Garfinkel: Profiling
  • Example: WaveAmerica. What problems does this address? What problems are solved? According to online documents, what are the real dangers of violence in schools?
  • Do people under 18 have the same rights as people over 18?
  • To what extent is being different characterized as being dangerous?
  • What about the role of computers in youths' threatening behavior?
UNC SILS
Prof. Greg Newby