Politics and Technology of Control: Introduction: Difference between revisions
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* [[Politics and Technology of Control: Introduction|Jan | * [[Politics and Technology of Control: Introduction|Jan 24]] | ||
* [[Paradigms for Studying the Internet| | * [[Paradigms for Studying the Internet|Jan 31]] | ||
* [[New Economic Models|Feb | * [[New Economic Models|Feb 7]] | ||
* [[Peer Production and Collaboration|Feb | * [[Peer Production and Collaboration|Feb 14]] | ||
* [[Collective Action and Decision-making|Feb | * [[Collective Action and Decision-making|Feb 21]] | ||
* [[New and Old Media, Participation, and Information| | * [[New and Old Media, Participation, and Information|Feb 28]] | ||
* [[Law's Role in Regulating Online Conduct and Speech|Mar | * [[Law's Role in Regulating Online Conduct and Speech|Mar 6]] | ||
* Mar | * Mar 13 - ''No class'' | ||
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* [[Regulating Speech Online|Mar | * [[Regulating Speech Online|Mar 20]] | ||
* [[Internet Infrastructure and Regulation|Mar | * [[Internet Infrastructure and Regulation|Mar 27]] | ||
* [[Copyright in Cyberspace|Apr | * [[Copyright in Cyberspace|Apr 3]] | ||
* [[Control and Code: Privacy Online|Apr | * [[Control and Code: Privacy Online|Apr 10]] | ||
* [[Internet and Democracy|Apr | * [[Internet and Democracy|Apr 17]] | ||
* [[Internet and Democracy: The Sequel|Apr | * [[Internet and Democracy: The Sequel|Apr 24]] | ||
* [[Cybersecurity and Cyberwarfare|May | * [[Cybersecurity and Cyberwarfare|May 1]] | ||
* [[Final Project|May | * [[Final Project|May 8]] - ''No class'' | ||
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'''January | '''January 24''' | ||
The Net has great potential for “good” (e.g. innovation, economic growth, education, and access to information), and likewise is a great platform for the bawdy, tawdry and illegal. Is this platform about fundamental social, political and economic change, or about easier access to pornography, cheap pharmaceuticals, free music and poker at home? This question leads us to a host of interesting issues that weave their way through the course related to openness, access, regulatory control, free speech, anonymity, intellectual property rights, democracy, transparency, norms and values, economic and cultural change, and cyber-terrorism, as well as scamsters and thieves. | The Net has great potential for “good” (e.g. innovation, economic growth, education, and access to information), and likewise is a great platform for the bawdy, tawdry and illegal. Is this platform about fundamental social, political and economic change, or about easier access to pornography, cheap pharmaceuticals, free music and poker at home? This question leads us to a host of interesting issues that weave their way through the course related to openness, access, regulatory control, free speech, anonymity, intellectual property rights, democracy, transparency, norms and values, economic and cultural change, and cyber-terrorism, as well as scamsters and thieves. |
Revision as of 18:43, 17 November 2011
January 24
The Net has great potential for “good” (e.g. innovation, economic growth, education, and access to information), and likewise is a great platform for the bawdy, tawdry and illegal. Is this platform about fundamental social, political and economic change, or about easier access to pornography, cheap pharmaceuticals, free music and poker at home? This question leads us to a host of interesting issues that weave their way through the course related to openness, access, regulatory control, free speech, anonymity, intellectual property rights, democracy, transparency, norms and values, economic and cultural change, and cyber-terrorism, as well as scamsters and thieves.
Preparation (Assignment "Zero")
Part I
To frame the issues we will be talking about in this class and to get the discussion going, we'll start with the recent controversy involving Wikileaks. Take some time to read through the articles below. Come to class prepared to answer the following questions and to pose some questions of your own.
- What is Wikileaks? Is it a journalism organization? A terrorist organization? A criminal syndicate?
- Do we need an organization like Wikileaks?
- What kind of arguments would you make to support your position one way or the other?
- What was the U.S.'s (and the world's) response to Wikileaks' disclosure of diplomatic cables?
- What are the legal and/or free speech implications involved in the decision by Amazon to stop hosting the Wikileaks site?
- What do you think the debate concerning Wikileaks shows about the nature of the Internet?
Part II
- What are the most significant changes associated with the spread of digital technologies?
In a few sentences, please offer 2-3 examples in the Class Discussion section below or be prepared to offer them during class.
Readings
- MIT Technology Review: Everything You Need to Know About Wikileaks
- Wall Street Journal: To Publish Leaks Or Not to Publish?
- Salon: Online, the censors are scoring big wins
- GigaOm: Like It or Not, WikiLeaks is a Media Entity
- Guardian: Live with the WikiLeakable world or shut down the net. It's your choice
Optional Readings
- EFF: Amazon and WikiLeaks - Online Speech is Only as Strong as the Weakest Intermediary
- Wired: Lieberman Introduces Anti-WikiLeaks Legislation
- Salon: WikiLeaks reveals more than just government secrets
- Clay Shirky: Wikileaks and the Long Haul
- Citizen Media Law Project: Julius Baer Bank and Trust v. Wikileaks
- MediaBerkman: Wikileaks and the Information Wars
- Rebecca MacKinnon: WikiLeaks, Amazon and the new threat to internet speech
- Coverage of the cables themselves by the NYT [1], Guardian [2], Der Spiegel [3]
Videos Watched in Class
Class Discussion
The most significant changes and challenges brought on by digital technologies.
- Your ideas here...
Other Useful Links
Here is a link to the BBC World Service documentary Wikipedia at 10 - a 22.5 minute retrospective on the occasion of Wikipedia’s 10th anniversary. It covers a number of topics, some of which may be relevant to the upcoming Wikipedia editing assignment.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/documentaries/2011/01/110111_wikipedia_at_10.shtml