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more on Tsunami & Internet -- good & bad
From: David Farber <dave () farber net>
Date: Wed, 05 Jan 2005 20:52:08 -0500
------ Forwarded Message From: "Tor Fosheim (prv)" <tfosheim () start no> Date: Thu, 06 Jan 2005 02:37:16 +0100 To: <dave () farber net> Cc: Ip <ip () v2 listbox com>, <digitalt () ad3-1-pip netcom no> Subject: Re: [IP] Tsunami & Internet -- good & bad Hi Dave, I thought you might appreciate this - even if the linked article is in Norwegian: http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/uriks/flodbolgen/article941779.ece It seems a lot of people of have been using the Internet to find the relatives of (usually western) survivors. Even though this was a great help in bringing quite a few families together, the emails themselve continue to thrive - much like the good old "missing persons"-mails of yore. This could potentially be a huge liability for people who suddenly find themselves plastered all over the web, no matter that they are safe and sound together with their families now. So lets hope people think twice before forwarding those emails. Its a dilemma, i know - but there _are_ professionals on the case. Speaking of which, most scandinavian countries have already sent crack forensic teams to the area to help identify both the living and the dead. I assume other countries have done the same. In Norway we started off with about 20 dead and 1000 missing, until the police published a list of names - which was promtly reduced to a few hundred missing and about 12, dead after shocked citizens used the net and found themselves listed as missing in action, and a few typos were sorted out. All the best from Oslo, I'd better get on a plane to CES now :) Tor PS: Here's one of the emails in question, just so you know:
Subject: VS: Does anybody recognize this boy? Please send this to all - we mean all! - the people in your entire network. Looking for his family. The boy about 2 years, from Khoa Lak is missing his parents. Nobody knows what country he comes from. If anyboy known him please contact us by phone 076-249400-4 ext. 1336, 1339 or e- mail : info () phuket-inter-hospital co th <mailto:info () phuket-inter-hospital co th>
_______________ Tor Fosheim Journalist, www.dinside.no/data På 6. jan. 2005 kl. 02.11 skrev David Farber:
------ Forwarded Message From: Dan Updegrove <updegrove () mail utexas edu> Date: Wed, 05 Jan 2005 18:49:18 -0600 To: Dave Farber <dave () farber net> Subject: Tsunami & Internet -- good & bad Dave, CNN carries upbeat article, "Internet aids tsunami recovery" (excerpt below). I also have heard a report of phishing e-mail with a roaming website alleging to be from the Red Cross that accepts credit card donations for tsunami relief efforts. In return contributors are provided with an "official" receipt for IRS tax reporting purposes. Apparently moral bankruptcy has no limits. Dan By Michael Coren CNN Wednesday, January 5, 2005 Posted: 6:08 PM EST (2308 GMT) (CNN) -- The Internet has played an unprecedented role supplying aid, money and information in the aftermath of the Asian tsunamis. Hours after the first waves crashed onto the coastlines, an electronic movement was underway. Donations poured into aid agencies through Web sites. Friends, relatives and strangers scoured the Internet for information about missing relatives and tsunami survivors. Hours after the first waves crashed onto the coastlines, an electronic movement was underway. Donations poured into aid agencies through Web sites. Friends, relatives and strangers scoured the Internet for information about missing relatives and tsunami survivors. Individuals, linked by an electronic network from text messages to Web sites, began answering pleas for help, releasing list of survivors and funneling hundreds of millions of dollars to aid agencies even as authorities struggled to gain control of the situation. ... http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/01/05/tech.tsunami/ VP for Information Technology Phone (512) 232-9610 The University of Texas at Austin Fax (512) 232-9607 FAC 248 (Mail code: G9800) d.updegrove () its utexas edu P.O. Box 7407 http:// <http://wnt.utexas.edu/~danu/> wnt.utexas.edu/~danu/ <http://wnt.utexas.edu/~danu/> Austin, TX 78713-7407 ------ End of Forwarded Message You are subscribed as tfosheim () start no To manage your subscription, go to http://v2.listbox.com/member/?listname=ip Archives at: http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/interesting-people/
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