There is great effect of privacy / individual rights on true e-Government implementations. As always, the core goals of e-Governance initiatives are to bring about openness and transparency in governance. In many different ways global governments strive to be transparent and thus be more approachable and open in its dealings with citizens. Individual rights such as…
Based on my reflection on E-Governance reference materials and experience, I am concluding that e-government initiatives cannot be truly transformational unless the socio-political environment is favorable and open-minded to bring about highly participatory democracy with high level of citizen involvement through innovative technology usage. Two forces are in play that hinders transformation – narrow mindedness…
This is an interesting and very scholastic topic to share and discuss. The basic question being raised is – Are e-government initiatives capable to bring about transformation within the ecosystem (citizens, government agencies and all public administration setup) that it functions and serves? To answer the question, we really need to define what ‘transformation’ are…
If Rohr would have written his book in the present year, it would have a clear shift from the focus on defining what a perfect public administrative function is (which focused on employees themselves) to defining how a public administration be made more fruitful in satisfying the original essence of Constitution to bring about effective…
This reading materials as listed in the Bibliography, sets the stage for deeply analyzing the origins of the most long lasting government setup of the world and how does one appreciate Lincoln’s far reaching vision of – ‘a government of the people, by the people, for the people’ – as related to various points of…
Offshore outsourcing is a highly debated topic. It would be nice if we reflect on the reasons that has lead to offshore outsourcing – 1. Highly skilled workforce for cheap labor – Most of the developing countries offers education that is highly specialized and with focus on international job economy. Difference in dollars and x…
I appreciate the study conducted by UCSD that it provides some striking insights into operation of scam engines and their origin stations. Based on this research, policies should be devised to regulate ISPs not to provide services for hosting such websites. Enforcing this policy cannot be done from a centralized location. Why don’t we share…
Antiphishing.org links us to various useful means to counter phishing. skimming through the website, here are two things that interested me – 1. The phishing and crime-ware map, which shows world-wide distribution. 2. GAIN technology from InternetPerils which claims highly effective ways to monitor internet traffic using efficient data pattern analysis. Good tool that can…
Cyber-Crime and its big brother – “Cyber-warfare”, have so conquered the ever expanding and versatile cyberspace that we need to establish new international polices and regulations which will enable easy coordinated crime-fighting between nations. Its not about questioning who is accusing who, rather the grave situation here to find am amicable solution for international peace…
I think its the USA PATRIOT Act that gives the right to do this kind of data mining. This actually amended a handful of other Acts such as – Wiretap Statute (Title III): Electronic Communications Privacy Act Computer Fraud and Abuse Act Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Family Education Rights and Privacy Act Pen Register and…
E-mail traffic is one of the main target of intelligence surveillance to detect terrorist and other malicious activities. Its rather easy and result oriented when compared to wiretapping of other data streams. This is because mails send or received can be easily linked to a chain that it belongs to. It can be used to…
First of all, I don’t think a search warrant is surely required in such a case as it is against Fourth Amendment. Now after 9/11, the issue of national security became top priority and CALEA was passed with the motive of intelligence gathering and interception of terrorist activities via electronic surveillance. Considering the terrorist’s strength…
Here’s a special report that analyzes how the Internet can facilitate terrorist operations – http://www.usip.org/pubs/specialreports/sr116.html . It reveals the ways in which terrorists exploit Internet resources for various activities. It’s shocking to read how they have been so Internet savvy and have been utilizing it for psychological warfare to recruitment, networking to fundraising and data-mining…
Here’s a special report that analyzes how the Internet can facilitate terrorist operations – http://www.usip.org/pubs/specialreports/sr116.html . It reveals the ways in which terrorists exploit Internet resources for various activities. It’s shocking to read how they have been so Internet savvy and have been utilizing it for psychological warfare to recruitment, networking to fundraising and data-mining…
Children’s legitimate free speech as applicable to them should not be barred in any case. I have little support for the free speech advocates out there in the current issues that we face in the case of minors. If MySpace leads to minors having being lead to unrestricted content and practices, then there should strictly…
I don’t think there is any explicit filtering technology available that can completely avoid harmful material from chartroom, social networking and blogs. There should be manual and AI based monitoring available that checks for content periodically and raise alarms when it detect something bad going on. All such sites should be personalized services so that…
Spyware is an explicit program that is written with the intention of collecting and using personal info, illegally. Of course its one other way to invade privacy. From the text, literature and real world experience, we know how vast is the world of privacy invasion and techniques that leads to it. Unless we have clear…
Not at all. Firstly there is no relation between the terminology (Spyware) and what the DRM is intended to do. Something which is Spyware is deemed illegal under the law cannot be used for regulation digital rights. The problem that Microsoft is facing is that the license tracking software that it developed is tagged under…
Interesting topic isn’t it! Usage of Spyware by itself should be made illegal in any case, as it invades privacy. Should a software is used for tracking bad behavior, it should be defined clearly in the user agreement that the user will accept as binding. I am not sure whether we can compare monitoring softwares that…
Some tips will be – 1. Make a point that one would not visit web sites such as mass advertising web sites as they are usually infectious with ad-wares and browser hijackers 2. Switching on those pop-up blockers. This would reduce the chances of a malicious ad-ware/spyware process getting run. most of the web sites…
The educational system should revise the curriculum according to the current technology demands in the society and to build creativity of students. I think the engineering schools in US are already doing it. If not, it is sad and the management should take necessary actions to consult the industry and experts to see what subjects…
Intel’s Maloney’s words – “It’s about the Web more than anything. I have young kids …….. doesn’t have access to the Web is overwhelming” – is very striking. OLPC efforts might be an answer to this concern. Strategy and plan alone doesn’t work when we are talking about reforming developing nations, cost effective infrastructure is…
The lesson learned should be lack of effective direction and control in implementing the plan. I remember from IST 601 that we should control technology, reverse should not happen. As wise users of technology, we should devise clear plans as how technology will be used, especially when it is to be used by kids. If…
Here is a nice article on what determines the usage of XO type laptops in developing countries – http://www.olpcnews.com/countries/india/ . The article can be used as a base for understanding how various levels of developing economies see and plan the usage of low-cost computers such as the ones envisioned by OLPC.
I think we should encourage funding on social impact research as it would lead us to explore and find answers to long disputed or rather complex issues. One major area in which funding can be flown in can be reaching out of computers and Internet in mass usage in the rural and village areas (talking…
Java (SunMicroSystems) and ActiveX (Microsoft) are two major technology platforms that has evolved itself a long way from years of R & D and support from the developer groups. In case of Java, Sun has invested a lot of money and effort to develop, innovate, maintain and release Java which can cater to all industry…
700 Mhz band is being developed and utilized with the intention of allowing entrepreneurs with less capital to establish broadband services, since it offers cheap means to setup service. This is the reason for the major players influencing Congress to gain an upper hand so that they kill competition and innovation. The term “public” means…
Again this is an instance of protecting consumer rights and freedom in utilizing the digital medium. The carriers have a very important role in maintaining a healthy pipe that is effectively utilized. There should be efforts to setup regulation and standards to avoid piracy and unauthorized usage of network traffic. At the same time the…
This reminds me of the most common issue – when should government leave the publishing of information to the private?. Intended quality and convenience of service determines the cost of the service. So its straight forward to believe and allow distributors to charge differently for different types of traffic. Faber’s view point is not different…
From the literature and court cases, FCC is less obliged to regulate broadband distributors as common carriers, as “Computer network Information” services are not subject to common carrier telecommunication service regulation under Title II of the federal Communications Act. (NCTA v. Brand X Internet Services et al., U.S. Supreme Court Nos. 04-277 and 04-281, June…
Here is another analysis article on a widely asked question – “Should treaties like the World Trade Organization’s TRIPS agreement be modified so developing countries can ignore software patents without facing WTO retaliatory measures?” Read along.. In my opinion, IPR should be preserved anywhere in the world. Making strict TRIP regulations has its major advantage…
Here is an interesting analysis article (short and sweet as we say) on “Should the US patent process be revised as suggested in S 1145 and HR 1908?”. Read along .. I think this move is a right one since it will help harmonizing with the method followed by European Union, where they follow first-to-file system. This…
Here is an short and to-the-point article on a most debated topic that I would want everyone to focus on now – “Should the Linux and Open Source communities be protected from software patent challenges?”. As a matter of fact, if we look deeply into the patents that various companies says Linux Kernel has violated,…
This article is a good resource for those who want to know more about the most raised question – What is the impact of software patents on innovation in the software industry? Read along .. Interesting that I found this online petition against Software Patenting – Petition Against Software Patents. The petition states that Software programs…
This article is a good resource for those who want to know more about the most raised question – Is there a need for legal and technological protection mechanisms that are uniform internationally? Read along .. I reviewed the Betamax case (Sony Corp. of America v. Universal City Studios, Inc., 464 U.S. 417 (1984)) from Wikipedia. See…
This article is a good resource for those who want to know more about the most raised question – How can the intellectual property community protect their intellectual property without the DMCA safeguards? Read along .. In my opinion, DMCA safeguards are a necessity for the IP community to keep up in business, although we…
This article is a good resource for those who want to know more about the most raised question – Should the prohibition in the Digital Millennium Copyright Act against breaking intellectual property safeguards be modified? Read along .. I agree to the general consent that DMCA should be amended to shift its view from complete…
This is an interesting article that I would recommend which tries to find some conclusion as how agencies may be controlled on posting biased or un-biased information. I think that Data quality regulations should be strictly used while assessing data released by federal agencies. A good example of why this is so can be seen…
The core idea of this article is to comtemplate on a most commonly discussed topic – Does making documents accessible over the web eliminate the need for printing documents? Here is the answer which you may not find in other all articles. This is an interesting question! The answer is NO. The very simple explanation…
There are so many articles about e-governance, but all these articles stress on what e-governance can do, with little thought on how and when e-governance systems should enclose and disclose information to the public. This article is different from all articles and lays down specific view as to when and how government documents could be…
The freedom of expression, being one of the firmly stated and affirmed right in the US constitution, I think the question refers to effecting in a global scenario. Freedom of expression touches most sensitive areas such as religion, which has a soft corner for. Considering the current world situation, I think pushing for such agendas…