It's already being done on certain levels. Brightkite is just the tip of the iceberg.
Hi Dan,
I'm sorry, but I wasn't able to figure out what you were referring to. You said, "It's already being done on certain levels." What is already being done on certain levels?
Ya, Dan, what's already being done on certain levels?
I know all card transactions are tracked, and almost all bank transactions. What else?
Gray,
Is it possible to outlaw Brightkite in the U.S. because it can hold personal information of a sensative nature and would then have to provide a privacy policy statement every year to every user? Users would have to sign an agreement to participate in their site if they chose for that information to be revealed as per policy. I would argue that your current location is a personal and sensitive piece of info. It violates the privacy act.
Also, should any illegal activity result with the use of said site, all its records would have to be turned over to the FBI according to the Patriot Act, wouldn't they?
I can see this site being targeted and watched by the CIA for terrorist activity plans. I don't believe they need any further law to allow them to do it if it's being used internationally. The NSA already evesdrops on international calls of any type they decide to, including between soldiers and their loved ones home here in the states. Evesdropping on Brightkite would be a no brainer. All any agency has to do is be sure to follow all users in the system. If anyone tries to block them, I'm sure they can get past that with a few phone calls and a couple of good hackers.
Sorry, I'm a little cynical tonight.
Sherri
Hi Sherri,
Brightkite doesn't violate the privacy act because it already has privacy settings. The user decides if her location is "public" or "private," as well as within how many meters Brightkite can publicize her exact location.
My concern there has to do with adolescents and pre-adolescents. Children and even young adults aren't as inclined to intuit in what ways such services make them susceptible to victimization, even when those concerns are explicitly outlined for them in a user agreement--which they don't always read before clicking "I accept the terms of the agreement."
Even if Brightkite is the only such service in existence, it won't be for long. A parent can't know all of the Brightkitesque services that are out there, find them, and set parental restrictions on them before their kids even download them.
You're absolutely right that the executive branch won't need additional laws to monitor Brightkite for terrorist activities. But because Brightkite enables a spontaneous organization of an event, the FBI would need agents already in the general area in order to intercept.
That places a greater demand on the FBI's ability to profile Brightkite users, monitor their movements, etc.
I can't help but think of activists who use text messaging to organize protests against Starbucks, for example. People who've never met before sign up their cell phones on some activist website, and then they receive a text saying "Meet at NY Starbucks on the corner of X & Y at 2pm."
Or the teens and kids in their twenties who Tweet for people to dress and act as zombies to disrupt a Mac store in L.A.
I can imagine a terrorist group using such legal disruptions to mask another intention, so they can hide from monitoring agents in a crowd of innocent bystanders.
But again, I don't believe the solution is to regulate against such services, or to increase federal surveillance over private lives. I believe the government can't resolve the increasing uncertainty that comes from rapid technological advances by more regulation or surveillance.
The only change that might work would be a change in education. We need to teach the American populous from a very young age about the types of ethical and national-security concerns that new technology can always raise.
If the American public had the training to understand how the same services that provide us with new opportunities can also be used against us, we as citizens would have a greater chance to mitigate these problems ourselves. We could assume an active role in citizenry.
Because the advantages of services like Brightkite are undeniable. Think of how useful Brightkite could have been in the immediate aftermath of Katrina, 9/11, or the California fires. Think of how such a service can organize people instantly for positive purposes.
But that type of agency without victimization requires rigorous national education from a young age.
Greetings Gray,
Put up a post about Capitalism with a conscience. Since you mentioned you wanted to hear more about it...I thought I would let you know I started the series at AWOP.
kim
I regularly use Twitter, BrightKite and a very long list of similar services. I make a conscious decision of when to use which ones.
I have three daughters, ages 18,15, and 7. Each one of them has been brought up to understand how to properly use the Internet and the dangers and benefits involved when you post something online.
I do not believe that the Government should get involved here. It should mostly be about parental involvement and parents teaching kids how to safely use tools, whether it be power tools in workshop or tools on the Internet.
In terms of the power and danger of sites like Twitter and BrightKite, I strongly encourage people to read Clay Shirky's book "Here Comes Everybody". It provides a very helpful exploration of these issues.
Thanks, Kim!
Hi Aldon,
Thanks for your comments. I'll be sure to take a look at Shirky's book!
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