Orwell Was Right? Mass Surveillance And It’s Consequences
Presenter: Dr. Paul Kamill
August, 2014
Please read the attached presentation abstract by Dr. Kamill. Dr Kamill asks us to think about our ever advancing communications technology in light of Orwell’s ‘1984’, and it’s effect on our society (and our rights).
In his brief, Dr. Kamill includes some of his personal experiences: “In 1983 I was a ‘Cold Warrior’. I was sent to Moscow, as a ‘diplomat’ and doctor, and was there for nearly four years. Three Party leaders died whilst I was there – now, don’t get excited! We had at least two ‘spy’ events…”
He concludes with questions:
“Our youth have grown up with this ‘culture’, Facebook, Twitter, and so on. They seem not to be phased by it, and, admittedly, there are good things about some parts of it all. So, here’s the question. Should we as a society accept that the genie is out of the bottle, or should we be trying to stuff it back in? Would you rather be off the grid? Do we have any choice? What good have we seen with this constantly ‘turned on’ society? I doubt that any of us really want “1984” but can we avoid it?”
Here are some suggested links:
World wide web inventor Tim Berners-Lee dismayed about US and UK attempts to undermine privacy and security:
http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/dec/03/tim-berners-lee-spies-cracking-encryption-web-snowden
The Snowden files: facts and figures – video animation:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2013/dec/02/the-snowden-files-guide-surveillance-industry-video
Surveillance, Spying Practices Have Brought U.S. to ‘Brink of the Abyss’:
www.truthdig.com/eartotheground/item/edward_snowden_surveillance_spying_practices_20140813
An excellent article by James Bamford with Snowden: http://www.wired.com/2014/08/edward-snowden/
(BTW: You don’t have to save this email because PRISM already has it stored for future reference!)