Social Impacts of Computing Science
- 2. CENSORSHIP AND FREEDOM OF SPEECH • Internet censorship are measure that are in place that includes filtering internet sites based on their content. • If the content is illegal in that current to publicise or have possession of. • Firewalls are used to block certain sites. • Governments are taking steps to introduce a broad system that will block certain websites from all users in that country.
- 3. CENSORSHIP AND FREEDOM OF SPEECH • Some people believe that censorship is a violation of people’s rights to freedom of speech. • In the UK laws against libel (written smearing of someone’s character) equally applies to internet content as it does with other media methods such as newspapers. • There has been a mass increase of internet surveillance by government officials to fight against terrorism and crime as well as protecting children. • The law does provide freedom of speech.
- 4. PRIVACY AND ENCRYPTION • Advancements in technology more often we are seeing ways in which our privacy is threatened. • Companies often monitor websites that people have visited which can be used to create advertisement for that company. • Personal information is often freely available on social networking sites. • Bank details are often freely given to purchased good online. This can often be held by the company on their own online databases. • Browsing history, search queries and social networking profiles can be processed to gather confidential details about an individual. Data such as their politic and religious views, race, addresses, telephone numbers etc
- 5. COOKIES • A cookie is a small program that stores data on a user’s computer about activities performed on websites. • For example they are used to store username and passwords that prevent you from having to enter them every time. • Amazon uses cookies to track what you browse and by so they can show you items that might interest you. • There is also negative impacts. For example thieves can acquire personal information through cookies. • Browsing habits saved on cookies can often be sold on. This can often lead to spam and phishing emails.
- 6. ENCRYPTION • Encryption is used to make data such as online payments securely by scrambling the details for it to be sent. • This is then decoded at the other side. • It uses various mathematical transformations that cannot be decoded without the key.
- 7. GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP • Up until a few hundred years ago majority of people had never travelled from their owns or even met people from other countries and cultures. • The invention of cars and planes opened the world up to many people. • The internet has also aided this and now many people communicate freely in online communities and are in theory becoming Global Citizens. • Global communication has led to an increased awareness and sharing of other cultures and attitudes.
- 8. ONLINE COMMUNITIES • An online community is a virtual community that exists online. • Members will sign up to share resources and discuss issues about a common interest. • This communities can take form of forums, bulletin boards, social networking sites, chatrooms and now even YouTube.