22 February 2013

Thoughtcrimes

Another discussion board post for my "Ethics In Information Technology" class. I've some fables nearly-ready to blog/post whence I get my homework done, sose prolly tomorrow at lest.


Question:

Read the article in Time Magazine Asia on Chinese censorship of the Internet: www.time.com/time/asia/magazine/article/0,13673,501051010-1112920,00.html
 Comment on why computing and networking access is restricted in some countries? What is good or bad about the restrictions? How is it different from the US? Provide an example.

[thread] Discussion 6 - Chinese Censorship


Who watches the watchers? -- The efforts of Chinese censorship restrict free speech, to maintain a narrative of China's government. I do not like that procedure because if the censorship is unjust the abusive element to that equation can continue persecuting those who are freely speaking while the accused has no rights, thus it is unfair.

To provide an example of other countries, North Korea has recently allowed network access to visiting foreigners in an effort to arrest spies from reporting-out the events that occur in that country. Meanwhile, the citizens of said country are unable to learn from the successes of the outside world, which would benefit them greatly. -- http://www.fastcompany.com/3006165/fast-feed/north-korea-opens-door-mobile-internet-foreigners -- whereas keeping data private is concerned, what for example US people/companies keep private is a collection of data they have acquired freely and openly, the individuals and entities in a censored environment can only be indoctrinated, which does not absolutely prevent malicious intents and in the process of being enacted sets a bad example, thereby teaching the crimes it intends to prevent. Perpetual totalitarianism, a cycle of violence created by a disrespect of free will and private property.

[/thread]