Politics and Technology of Control: Introduction: Difference between revisions

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== Preparation (Assignment "Zero") ==
== Preparation (Assignment "Zero") ==
To get this discussion started, take some time to read through the three blog posts below, published by Google in their relationship with China. Come to class with some brief thoughts (1 page, double space), responding to:
To frame the issues we will be talking about in class and to get the discussion started, we'll start with the recent controversy involving [http://wikileaks.ch 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 do you think was the right approach on Google's part?  
* 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 or ideological stands would you make to support your position one way or the other?
* What kind of arguments or ideological stands would you make to support your position one way or the other?
* What do you feel these articles show about the nature of the internet?
* What was the U.S.'s (and the world's) response to Wikileaks' disclosure of diplomatic cables? 
* What do you feel these articles show about the nature of the Internet?


== Readings ==
== Readings ==
*[http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2006/01/google-in-china.html Google In China (2006)]
* [http://www.technologyreview.com/computing/26875/ MIT Technology Review: Everything You Need to Know About Wikileaks]
*[http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2010/01/new-approach-to-china.html Google in China (2010)]
* [http://www.salon.com/technology/dan_gillmor/2010/12/03/the_net_s_soft_underbelly/index.html Salon: Online, the censors are scoring big wins]
*[http://www.techcrunch.com/2010/01/12/google%E2%80%99s-china-stance-more-about-business-than-thwarting-evil/ TechCrunch, More About Business Than Thwarting Evil (2010)]
* [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703785704575643431883607708.html Wall Street Journal: To Publish Leaks Or Not to Publish?]
* [http://gigaom.com/2010/12/04/like-it-or-not-wikileaks-is-a-media-entity/ GigaOm: Like It or Not, WikiLeaks is a Media Entity]
 
== Optional Readings ==
* [https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/12/amazon-and-wikileaks-first-amendment-only-strong EFF: Amazon and WikiLeaks - Online Speech is Only as Strong as the Weakest Intermediary]
* [http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2010/12/shield/ Wired: Lieberman Introduces Anti-WikiLeaks Legislation]
* [http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2010/11/30/wikileaks Salon: WikiLeaks reveals more than just government secrets]
* [http://www.shirky.com/weblog/2010/12/wikileaks-and-the-long-haul/ Clay Shirkey: Wikileaks and the Long Haul]
* [http://www.citmedialaw.org/threats/julius-baer-bank-and-trust-v-wikileaks Citizen Media Law Project: Julius Baer Bank and Trust v. Wikileaks]
* Coverage of the cables themselves by the NYT [http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/world/statessecrets.html/], Guardian [http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/the-us-embassy-cables], Der Spiegel [http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/the-us-embassy-cables]


== Videos Watched in Class ==
== Videos Watched in Class ==
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''Please use this space for comments/discussion you would like to share with the rest of the class.''
''Please use this space for comments/discussion you would like to share with the rest of the class.''


== Links ==
== Other Useful Links ==

Revision as of 12:19, 9 December 2010

The Net has great potential for “good” (e.g. innovation, economic growth, education, and access to information), and is 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")

To frame the issues we will be talking about in class and to get the discussion started, 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 or ideological stands 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 do you feel these articles show about the nature of the Internet?

Readings

Optional Readings

Videos Watched in Class

Class Discussion

Please use this space for comments/discussion you would like to share with the rest of the class.

Other Useful Links