Big Brother, version 43.0

[geoviki]

I haven't seen much online discussion about the Bush administration subpoena for internet search records from Yahoo, MSN, and Google, which only Google is fighting (the other two caved rather easily). Justice Dept. lawyers will use this info, ostensibly, to concoct internet anti-porn laws that won't be struck down by the courts (unlike all their last efforts). I just read a terrific article on the deeper issue: why are these companies keeping records tying each IP to each search in the first place?

Keeping Secrets - by Tim Wu, professor at Columbia Law School.

It all goes back to this basic point: How free you are corresponds exactly to how free you think you are. And Americans today feel great freedom to tell their deepest secrets; secrets they won't share with their spouses or priests, to their computers. The Luddites were right—our closest confidants today are robots.

Comments

[idlerat.livejournal.com]

The question of "perceived privacy" on the Internet is an interesting one, which I've thought about quite a bit. Even when people know that others are reading them (e.g. members of an active circle of LJ friends), they will say things online that they'd be inhibited about saying anywhere else.

One possible line of comparison might be the analyst's couch, where you are supposed to be less inhibited because you can't actually *see* the person you're talking to. But "uninhibited" is one thing in analysis, quite another in other types of interaction where more inhibition might be desirable :).

Hi, BTW (*waves*)

I am thinking of running away from Yahoo. Not only are they reporting to the feds, I can't get my yahoo mail at work.

[geoviki.livejournal.com]

And hi back! This is so ...synchronous...because I was just thinking about you this morning while brushing my teeth. Er, no connection. Just hadn't seen a post from you in a while.

I thought the article hit on a lot of great angles. People do use the internet to bare their souls. But an internet search goes even beyond that - it's done with the presumption of privacy in that you know you are not interacting with anyone human. If I have to Google my assignment for merry_smutmas, for example, because I don't know the exact practice being asked for, I don't want Bush to necessarily know that. Oh, no - I've said too much....

[idlerat.livejournal.com]

Perhaps you thought of me while brushing my teeth because I am a roDENT. :)

Did you happen to see the clip of that guy asking Bush if he'd seen Brokeback Mountain? It was really good. Maybe it would be good for him to see your searches.

[geoviki.livejournal.com]

I didn't see the clip itself, but a description said it was an "uncomfortable moment" for the Shrub.

[scoradh.livejournal.com]

The Luddites were right—our closest confidants today are robots.

That is so true that I can hardly process it.

Anti-WHAT-porn, exactly? As long as it's not kids and people get proper wages, why is there such a hullabaloo?

[geoviki.livejournal.com]

They're couching it in terms of preventing the kiddies from seeing anything with naughty bits. Of course they've failed to take into account how international the internet is. The only effect would be on American porn; therefore, with these new laws they want to enact, all our wee ones will mature with a serious kink for Asian and Brazilian naked people. Or animals, I suppose.

[scoradh.livejournal.com]

If the kiddies don't see the naughty bits, how will they learn? The seven-year-old me wouldn't have figured out from first principles where babies come from without such stalwart works as the Kama Sutra.

Still, at least they can't get rid of all the porn. Yayes!

[kupukello.livejournal.com]

The debate isn't exactly new but it's interesting that it still continues. I don't know if you remember the Big Fuss about anon.penet.fi about ten years ago. That time I was ready for barricades, the whole thing was so outrageous all in all. And these days, well, I guess anonymity or even the illusion of privacy is long gone, so I hardly bother anymore. Bah.

(Hee, I just came across my 15 year old button saying "Internet is full. Go away!" :) Oh, the times, the times!!)

[geoviki.livejournal.com]

That was a good link. I was only peripherally aware of the issue at the time, but I can see how critical it is worldwide to have freedom to speak without retribution.

[tm-nicholas.livejournal.com]

-friends-

You were fun to talk to during slush!chat.

♥

[geoviki.livejournal.com]

Hi, Nick! Welcome.