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Internet and Technology - Carnivore and the Public's Privacy
Abstract: This paper discusses the potential for widespread invasion of the public's privacy on the Internet by the United States government. In particular, the paper will address the Carnivore system employed by the FBI. It will show the privacy issues that are raised by the FBI's attempt to create an Internet wiretap system.
In today's world, where the Internet has pervaded so many aspects of our daily lives, it is important to consider the security of the information one transmits digitally over a network. Ideally, any transmitted data would reach its intended destination without ever being visible to anyone else. Unfortunately, the very nature of computer networks makes this impossible. Carnivore attempts to take advantage of this in order to create the equivalent of an Internet wiretap. However, the present implementation raises certain privacy issues.
Carnivore is the FBI's attempt to create the digital equivalent of an analog wiretap. Carnivore functions like many other packet sniffers (network programs that capture all data that they see) that have been available for years; it enters a promiscuous mode where it collects every packet available on the network, whether or not the packet is intended for that machine. Carnivore is then able to piece the packets together in order to reconstruct the original data. The intent is to capture email content without needing to go through the process of obtaining legal access to the files on the mail server of the Internet Service Provider (ISP). However, there is no reason why the same process could not be used to reconstruct other user transactions such as instant messages, chat...
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... only methods of precaution available to network users if there is someone sniffing packets.
Carnivore poses certain concerns to any network user concerned about their security. Unfortunately many of the issues are in the hands of the FBI and not the common civilian population of the United States, because it does not seem as though Carnivore will be forced to change. As a result, the only safeguard available to most people is encryption of any important information that is transmitted over a network. Public awareness of the issues involved, and the voicing of the concerns could prompt legislation to ensure that personal privacy is observed and respected by the FBI. In the meantime, the FBI will have to be trusted to handle the power provided by Carnivore in an ethical manner, doing everything they can to respect the privacy of the common citizen.
The FBI’s position on Carnivore is outlined in Donald M. Kerr’s congressional statement made before a Senate committee that was reviewing the FBI’s Carnivore system. As the Assistant Director of the Laboratory Division for the FBI, Kerr has extensive knowledge of the workings and capabilities of the Carnivore system. In his statement, Kerr makes five points ranging from what Carnivore is to why the public should trust the FBI with Carnivore. Kerr explains that because terrorists, spies, hackers, and criminals used computers and the Internet, the FBI needs a tool like Carnivore to counter them. Another reason the FBI feels that they need Carnivore is to combat information warfare, fraud, and the spread of child pornography on the Internet. Logos in the form of statistics and examples is used to show that there has been an increased use of the Internet for criminal activity.
Edward Snowden is America’s most recent controversial figure. People can’t decide if he is their hero or traitor. Nevertheless, his leaks on the U.S. government surveillance program, PRISM, demand an explanation. Many American citizens have been enraged by the thought of the government tracing their telecommunication systems. According to factbrowser.com 54% of internet users would rather have more online privacy, even at the risk of security (Facts Tagged with Privacy). They say it is an infringement on their privacy rights of the constitution. However, some of them don’t mind; they believe it will help thwart the acts of terrorists. Both sides make a good point, but the inevitable future is one where the government is adapting as technology is changing. In order for us to continue living in the new digital decade, we must accept the government’s ability to surveil us.
With the introduction of the internet being a relatively new phenomenon, the act of cyber espionage is not something that has been properly acknowledged by society. The American Government has done a stand up job of keeping its methods in the shadows and away from the eyes of its people since its documented domestic surveillance began on October 4th, 2001; Twenty three days after the Twin Towers fell President George Bush signed an order to begin a secret domestic eavesdropping operation, an operation which was so sensitive that even many of the country's senior national security officials with the...
The government definitely needs to have some control of the Internet. They need to have control in order to stop criminals from using the Internet. The FBI’s position on Carnivore is outlined in Donald M. Kerr’s congressional statement made before a Senate committee that was reviewing the FBI’s Carnivore system. In a congressional statement made by Donald Kerr who is the Assistant Director of the Laboratory Division for the FBI, Kerr explains terrorists, spies, hackers, and criminals used computers and the Internet with malicious intent. Another reason the FBI feels that they need Carnivore is to combat information warfare, fraud, and other various crimes on the Internet. I believe that Carnivore will help the FBI to prevent some of the crime on the Internet. There is no way for any government to completely prevent any crime on the Internet. I rather have some government control than a lawless Internet. At least this way, I would know who would be violating my privacy.
...rom occurring in their workplace location. The only way that we can stop these types of behaviors from occurring is by becoming knowledgeable about the topic and making sure everyone is also aware of the topic and the preventative measures that are available. Sexual harassment in the workplace may always be a problem but by working together with those who work around you, we can lower the chances of it happening in your particular workplace.
Envision a future where every action you make is recorded and reviewed by unknown means — A world where a government spies on its own citizens more frequently than other nations — A government that reads everyone’s email, in order to try to thwart unpreventable actions. Does this sound like a science fiction story? Well it is not; this is a reality according to civil libertarians. Ever since the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) program, named Carnivore, was introduced to the world in 1999, civil libertarians have been up in arms claiming that Carnivore violates civil human rights. This claim and others about Carnivore are shortsighted, because there are misconceptions about Carnivore itself. Carnivore is not a vicious wolf, eating its prey (email) at will; it is a harmless puppy, which can barely open its eyes; I will go into some detail on what Carnivore is, why it causes commotion, and why it is inadequate to do any good. It is the role of any government to protect its interests and its citizens. Carnivore does not live up to its expectations, but if used effectively can capture some criminals.
Sexual Harassment in the workplace is defined as “offensive or pervasive conduct in the workplace related to a person’s sex that negatively affects a reasonable person’s employment.”(aauw.org) Sexual Harassment violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 because it is a form of sex discrimination. According to aauw.org, Title VII is “a federal law that prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin, and religion, and it applies to employers with 15 or more employees, including federal, state, and local governments.” Victims of sexual harassment in the workplace may feel like there is nothing they can do about the situation....
Ever since day one, people have been developing and creating all sorts of new methods and machines to help better everyday life in one way or another. Who can forget the invention of the ever-wondrous telephone? And we can’t forget how innovative and life-changing computers have been. However, while all machines have their positive uses, there can also be many negatives depending on how one uses said machines, wiretapping in on phone conversations, using spyware to quietly survey every keystroke and click one makes, and many other methods of unwanted snooping have arisen. As a result, laws have been made to make sure these negative uses are not taken advantage of by anyone. But because of how often technology changes, how can it be known that the laws made so long ago can still uphold proper justice? With the laws that are in place now, it’s a constant struggle to balance security with privacy. Privacy laws should be revised completely in order to create a better happy medium between security and privacy. A common misconception of most is that a happy medium of privacy and security is impossible to achieve. However, as well-said by Daniel Solove, “Protecting privacy doesn’t need to mean scuttling a security measure. Most people concerned about the privacy implications of government surveillance aren’t arguing for no[sic] surveillance and absolute privacy. They’d be fine giving up some privacy as long as appropriate controls, limitations, oversight and accountability mechanisms were in place.”(“5 Myths about Privacy”)
The issue on privacy is extremely controversial in today’s world. As the United States’ use of the internet, a global web of interconnected computer networks, expands, so does its problem with privacy invasion. With the U.S. pushing for new laws governing internet use, citizens are finding their privacy being pulled right from underneath them. Web users are buying and selling personal information online as well as hacking users for more information. One may argue that there is no such thing as privacy on the internet, but privacy is a right among Americans, and should be treated as such.
Before looking at the definitions of both situations, it’s important to note that the law applies to all genders, be it male/female, female/female, or male/male. Anyone can be a victim of sexual harassment no matter their sex. Statistics show that “16% of claims are filed by males.” (Ethics) The anxiety and frustration experienced by victims can impact their quality of life not to mention the quality of their work “The harasser can be the employee 's supervisor, manager, customer, coworker, supplier, peer, or vendor. Any individual, who is connected to the employee 's work environment, can be accused of sexual harassment.” (Heathfield) The victim in a sexual harassment situation isn’t always alone. Others who witness or overhear a conversation can also take
Are the benefits of electronic communication at the expense of our privacy? How does the Internet affect the availability and use of our personal information? The Internet brings another dimension to the issue of privacy. Whether you are voting on-line or buying a book from Amazon.com you must consider how much personal information has been collected about you, with or without your consent, and how it can be used. Policies governing privacy on the Internet are still not clearly defined and many on-line users do not understand how the information they provide will be used. How much...
Susan B. Neuman, a renowned faculty member at the Center for Improvement of Early Reading Achievement at the University of Michigan, states that the single biggest barrier to literacy development in the United States and beyond is access to books and educational material. “If we can solve the problem of access, we will be well on the road to realizing educational parity – a goal which has eluded the country for generations” (Book Trust, n.d.). Although this is a factor in the scheme of illiteracy, it is not necessarily the most important one. Research...
The believe that educating the workforce on proper conduct should help with the elimation of sexual harassment. But even though companies have guidelines, policies and training, sexual harassment will still happen even in the best of companies.
The exploration of this issue will include a definition of sexual harassment, the intent and behavior of the harasser, the effects sexual harassment has on the harassed, the negative impact sexual harassment has on an organization, procedures and processes of filing a sexual harassment complaint, and management perspective including preventive measures that should be taken.
In terms of government intelligence, in the information age greatest threats to privacy have been the result of technology and business practices related to e-commerce, marketing and information databases, and not the result of government intrusions (Hoffman, Novak & Peralta, 1997). Nevertheless “all things considered, the increasing and overlapping information sharing by governments and businesses about formerly confidential or private activities generates concerns about potential violations of individual’s privacy rights” (Mace, 2008 cited in Gal, Kantor & Lesk, 2008, p.41).