Introduction by moderator: PBS broadcast a show called Frontline across the U.S. on Wednesday evening that had a program on electronic networks, commercialization, and the dangers presented for privacy and community. Here are some comments people sent to cyber-rights and other mailing lists about the show. Andy @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ Sender: "W. Curtiss Priest" <•••@••.•••> CITS Observations Dr. W. Curtiss Priest Perhaps it is the political climate for PBS funding, but I thought Robert Krulwich tip-toed around social issues such as privacy and a market driven set of values, a little too much. As the attached summary of American opinion shows, people ARE worried about privacy. But in the show last night we witness a couple of marketeers hovering around Robert Krulwich saying that there will be a few "strays" (my words) who won't want massive databases about them, but the majority will just fall in line. The few comments from well.org about the value of networks to rebuild rebuild community are drowned by the smell of the grease paint. And we listen to one sensible mother who, when told what they intend to add to Stargazer (selective ads, etc.) sounds a bit deceived about what experiment she is really a part of. From EDUPAGE: PEOPLE FEAR COMPUTERS BRING LOSS OF PRIVACY According to a new Equifax/Louis Harris survey, almost 80% of U.S. consumers fear they've lost control of their personal information gathered by computerized information systems and 43% are concerned about marketers collecting information but even more (51%) are worried about government information-gatherers. (USA Today 31 Oct 95 A1) @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ Sender: Mark Weiser <•••@••.•••> > Perhaps it is the political climate for PBS funding, but I thought > Robert Krulwich tip-toed around social issues such as privacy and > a market driven set of values, a little too much. I interpreted Frontline completely differently. It was a devastating ironic presentation of the dangers that are coming, and a call for us all to wake up to them. Yes, the marketeers were presented without commentary, just being themselves. No comment needed. I thought it was a very strong program. An example of the irony: throughout the program, generally speakers were identified once. But, as the Bell Atlantic chairman was saying "anyone who is concerned about information being stored about them on our computers, they just need to ask, and we'll delete everything. No problem..." the screen once again identified him, as if to say "Mark this man's words, and hold him to them!" -mark -- ----------- Spoken: Mark Weiser Email: •••@••.••• URL: http://www.ubiq.com/weiser.html @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ Sender: Jonathan Prince <•••@••.•••> > An example of the irony: throughout the program, generally speakers > were identified once. But, as the Bell Atlantic chairman was saying "anyone > who is concerned about information being stored about them on our computers, > they just need to ask, and we'll delete everything. No problem..." the screen > once again identified him, as if to say "Mark this man's words, and hold him > to them!" > > -mark > Spoken: Mark Weiser Email: •••@••.••• > URL: http://www.ubiq.com/weiser.html I found the guy's answer rather flipant and enraged me more than anything else in the program. Im curious what procedures in law or in BA's own processes are there for me to learn what exactly do they have on me? Would they tell me without charging me for the info? Who checks on them to see that they are not using my info in the future? The other disturbing comment was the two guys that designed the web pages that would monitor the viewer when they basically said that it was the domain of the law to determine how far they can go and until the govt sets the standards, they will go as far as they can. Well, that's comforting. Over all I thought it was a good program. Sure it could have been better at explaining the nittygritty details that us cyber-geeks understand too well, but for the non-net user it was an excellent intro. I especially liked how they illustrated that even if you are not online these things still affect you. jonathan -- .________________________________________________________. | "With these twenty-six soldiers of lead, | Jonathan Prince | I will conquer the world. - Guttenberg | Rural Action-VISTA '--------------------------------------------------------' South Eastern Ohio •••@••.••• <URL: http://cyberstation.net/~meme> Regional Free-Net @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ Sender: Stanton McCandlish <•••@••.•••> > An example of the irony: throughout the program, generally speakers > were identified once. But, as the Bell Atlantic chairman was saying "anyone > who is concerned about information being stored about them on our computers, > they just need to ask, and we'll delete everything. No problem..." the screen > once again identified him, as if to say "Mark this man's words, and hold him > to them!" I sent the following letter today, to Bell Atlantic: To whom it may concern: On the tv program Frontline, the chairman of Bell Atlantic stated, "anyone who is concerned about information being stored about them on our computers, they just need to ask, and we'll delete everything. No problem..." In accordance with this promise, I am hereby requesting that all information about me stored in your computers be deleted. Please send a letter of confirmation when this is done. Thank you. I do NOT authorize Bell Atlantic to provide any such stored information about me to any third parties of any kind, whatsoever. [sig.] Stanton McCandlish (###-###-#### was my most recent Bell Atlantic phone number, though I have had at least 4 others.) Current address, for return mail: PO Box 170190 San Francisco CA 94117 [phone number removed from archived copy for privacy reasons. - mech] -- <HTML><A HREF="http://www.eff.org/~mech/"> Stanton McCandlish </A><HR><A HREF="mailto:•••@••.•••"> •••@••.••• </A><P><A HREF="http://www.eff.org/"> Electronic Frontier Foundation </A><P><A HREF="http://www.eff.org/A/"> Online Activist </A></HTML> ~=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=~=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=~-~=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=~=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=~ Posted by Andrew Oram - •••@••.••• - Moderator: CYBER-RIGHTS (CPSR) You are encouraged to forward and cross-post messages for non-commercial use, pursuant to any redistribution restrictions included in individual messages. ~=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=~=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=~-~=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=~=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=~
