…And Whom It Might Benefit Most There’s been a certain amount of buzz following a series of stories on the development of what’s being termed a “cell phone panic button.” At first view, it may seem like a sensible, even helpful idea for democracy advocates. But there are growing worries that it may not just […]
Web Privacy Gains Traction On Both Sides of the Atlantic
Posted November 4th, 2010 at 5:55 pm (UTC-4)
Could the New US Congress Find Common Cause with the EU? Even before the votes were counted, the Internet was buzzing with speculation about the 2010 midterm elections: what their meaning may be, their economic fallout and impacts on foreign policy across the globe. Now add to the list: increased scrutiny of Internet privacy. The […]
What Went Wrong With Haystack?
Posted September 24th, 2010 at 12:58 pm (UTC-4)
It seemed too good to be true, and perhaps that should have been the first warning. “Haystack” was said to be just the needed tool for Iranian democracy activists to break through governmental firewalls and hide their identity. In the end, it may have put them at risk. How did the promise of Haystack go […]
When Information Goes Bad
Posted July 21st, 2010 at 3:06 pm (UTC-4)
And How the Internet Can Make It Worse The recent online posting of part of a government official’s speech – and her subsequent firing – have created a firestorm in the United States around the always sensitive issues of race and responsibility. But it’s raising serious questions about the Internet as well, and what some […]
Private Issues; Public Debate
Posted June 11th, 2010 at 5:32 pm (UTC-4)
The Senate Judiciary Committee June 28th starts hearings on whether to confirm Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan to the nation’s highest court. Nominees are typically grilled on traditional issues such as abortion and gun ownership rights. But a new issue is likely to arise this time: privacy in the digital world. VOA’s Doug Bernard spoke […]
Cyber-Slander and Online Libel
Posted April 6th, 2010 at 1:14 pm (UTC-4)
In the digital age, anyone with a connection to the Internet can make themselves a writer, a poet, a commenter…or a critic. The language can be harsh, and the treatment rough. And writers can do all of this cloaked in anonymity. Is that a good thing, or a bad thing…or more likely, some combination of […]
