IP-FLASH Balancing Security and Liberty -- expanded full online version

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Internet Computing , IEEE Computer Society

Balancing Security and Liberty

David Farber University of Pennsylvania

Abstract

The United States has gone through a rollercoaster in the balance between 
individual freedoms and national safety throughout its history. As usual in 
a capitalistic democracy, profits, immigration, and other societal 
pressures have all factored in to the challenge. After the tragic attack on 
September the 11th, the Bush administration has called for, and received, 
increased powers to listen to our conversations, look at our e-mail, and 
see who and where we visit in cyberspace -- all with the stated intentions 
of protecting us from terrorists. Even prior to 9/11, repeated calls for 
increased powers for law enforcement resulted in ill-thought-out or rushed 
ideas such as Clipper -- the key escrow proposals of not many years ago -- 
and hastily adopted, potentially destabilizing schemes such as the 
Carnivore e-mail monitoring system. Now more than ever, the technical 
community has a vital role in maintaining the balance.

http://www.computer.org/internet/v5n6/index.htm