Contentious Privacy Issues

"Why is privacy such a contentious issue for internet users? Discuss with reference to at least ONE social network service (or other web2.0 service)".

Protecting your privacy is everything in today’s high tech modern world. From an early stage we develop a sense of ownership over ourselves and the information we put out for everyone to know and see, pretty much in the same way we limit other people use our prized material possessions. Controlling privacy helps us to stay as an individual. The way we tell people our private information can occur through many ways, such as through telephones, the internet and face to face. However, in today’s world, the importance of ones own privacy has become a significant issue that it has become a regular in the media for all the wrong reason. And since the internet boom and social networking sites, it has become more and more easier to steal people’s private information. However, has all this privacy issue and concerns been exaggerated by the media and their like to bring fear into the world, or, is it an issue that we all need to protect ourselves from? This paper will discuss on how online privacy is very much a contentious issue, yet also, how the media over exaggerates it. First off though, what is privacy and how do we define it?

There is no one simple way to answer this question as there are many different definitions to define what privacy is, and also how we interpret it as the term “privacy” can have different meaning through cultural and social contexts and personal beliefs, for example, in Muslim communities and countries, Muslim women are told to keep their arms and legs covered as it’s a private part of your body that only your husband and family should see, while here in Australia and other western countries, most women feel that covering your arms and legs is not a private matter. However, what most people can all agree on is that privacy, as stated by Alan Westin, is “the right of individuals, groups and institutions to determine for themselves, when, how and to what extent information about them is communicated to others” (Media Awareness Network 2010) such as personal data and information. Though, why is privacy important to us and how has it become such a contentious issue?

Again, there are many different reasons to why privacy is important us, usually though it’s because of our fundamental rights as a human being in order to protect our personal and private information from unwanted people, such as pedophilias, criminals, and sometimes, even our own friends. “Privacy isn’t just about hiding things. It’s about self–possession, autonomy, and integrity” (FirstMonday.org 2006). Another reason is simply because no one needs to know any personal information about you other than you. But why is it such a contentious issue? Well, it’s because we now live in a digital age world were our everyday lives are run by computers, mobile phones and the internet. It is so easy these days to now “take” someone’s personal information and share it for the whole world to see. In particular with the internet, where many are unaware that when they go online, they leave an electronic record of their movements, and this in turn, can unwittingly provide personal details to people and organizations that can track such data.

Since the mid 90’s, we have seen a massive growth within internet usage, almost to the point where 1.9 billion people now use the internet (Internet World Stats 2010) and about 37% of that internet population do not understand anything about privacy (Wired 2010). Furthermore, a majority of that 37% is made up of young kids and teenagers.

This is especially a big concern when we’re dealing privacy issue with young kids and teenagers mixed together as they yet have not grasp the concept of privacy. We often here stories of them in the media doing unthinkable things, such as sending sexual images of themselves or of other people on the internet that then going viral, or giving out account details or even meeting up with ‘suppose’ friends they’ve just meet off social networking sites that usually end in tragedy. An example of this issue happen just a couple of months ago.

In May 2010, Nona Belomesoff, an 18 year old teenage girl, was murdered and dumped in a near by bush land in Sydney’s southwest after she allegedly went to meet two men who had befriended her on the social networking site Facebook (ABC 2010). One of the men, 20-year-old Christopher James Dannveig, created a fake Facebook profile where he had pretended to be animal rescue worker “Jason Green”, recorded her private personal details such as “her home address, phone numbers, and pictures” (ABC 2010) and then lured Miss Belomesoff to an isolated area where he raped and murdered her (ABC 2010). This is very frightening since majority of teenagers spend most amount of their free time on social networking sites. “Teenagers will freely give up personal information on social networks on the Internet. Yet, they are angered when their parents read their private journals” (FirstMonday.org 2006). Social networking sites are the main concerns with privacy issues as your personal details are accessible to anyone, even companies “who buy your personal information from social networking sites in order to market certain information to you, all without your knowledge and consent” (FirstMonday.org 2006).

Many believe that their Facebook, Twitter or MySpace journal entries are private and very much theirs, but are actually public diaries that are owned by companies who store all your information, including photos, videos and phone numbers in a computer database. For example, Facebook, who clearly state in their Terms and Conditions that they “keep track of all the actions you take on Facebook, such as adding connections (including joining a group or adding a friend), creating a photo album, sending a gift, poking another user, indicating you “like” a post, attending an event, or connecting with an application. In some cases you are also taking an action when you provide information or content to us. For example, if you share a video, in addition to storing the actual content you uploaded, we will log the fact that you shared it” (Facebook 2010). We live in a paradoxical world of privacy where on one hand people reveal their most intimate details, thoughts and behaviors online, yet on the other, companies are selling our information to government agencies, companies and marketers. For instances, governments buy your information and use social networking sites to “detect fraud, fake marriages and immigration fraud” (The Huffington Post 2010). However, majority of these privacy concerns are over exaggerated by the media.

The media often over exaggerate these privacy fears by claiming how we now live in a “big brother” styled world where cameras are watching our every movements. “Privacy concerns are overblown. No company or government agency will be able to secretly scan your house, or find out what products you've purchased or even what you’re doing or who you’re talking to online. There is no feasible way to do so. If the Government could then wouldn’t all these terrorist, pedophilia and other bad people be off the street and in jail by now?” claims Jay Cline (Computerworld 2003). The media has a tendency to exaggerate things, privacy concerns being at the top, in order to bring fear into the world. “All these fears about Facebook and its privacy are all overblown and half of what’s said has been exaggerated by the media” states Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg (All Facebook 2010). The media has two goals in mind, one, bring fear and second, make money. However, online privacy concerns are very much a contentious issue, and will always be no matter how exaggerated the media has made it out.

We live in a new digital world where everyone, including young kids and teenager, are confining their most private and intimate matters on the internet for everyone to see. Furthermore, companies such as Facebook are selling your personal information to government agencies and marketers with out your knowledge or consent. Even though privacy is not a new issue, it has become a bigger problem than ever before now that our lives are run by new communication technologies. We, as individuals, need to be more vigilant and proactive about protecting our privacy on the internet as what we traditional viewed or understood privacy as no longer exists, so we must now adapt our thinking and attitudes accordingly to cope with this dangerous technology.

References

ABC (2010) Facebook Teen Killed
Retrieved at: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/05/17/2901537.htm
(Online), 19th October 2010

All Facebook (2010) U.S. Government Using Facebook For Surveillance
Retrieved at: http://www.allfacebook.com/facebook-government-surveillance-2010-10 (Online), 19th October 2010

Computerworld (2003) Privacy Scare Is Overblown
Retrieved at: http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/87286/RFID_privacy_scare_is_overblown
(Online), 20th October 2010

Facebook (2010) Facebook’s Privacy Policy
Retrieved at: http://www.facebook.com/policy.php
(Online), 22nd October 2010

FirstMonday.org (2006) A Privacy Paradox
Retrieved at: http://firstmonday.org/htbin/cgiwrap/bin/ojs/index.php/fm/article/viewArticle/1394/1312%23note4 (Online), 18th October 2010

Internet World Stats (2010) Internet Usage Statistics
Retrieved at: http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats.htm
(Online), 20th October 2010

Media Awareness Network (2010) How Information Privacy Is Compromised
Retrieved at: http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/issues/privacy/compromised_privacy.cfm
(Online), 18th October 2010

The Huffington Post (2010) U.S. Government Exploits Our Facebook 'Narcissism' To Detect Fraud, Fake Marriages
Retrieved at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/14/government-facebook_n_762581.html (Online), 22nd October 2010

Wired (2010) Facebook’s Gone Rogue; It’s Time for an Open Alternative
Retrieved at: http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2010/05/facebook-rogue/
(Online), 21st October 2010

Further References

Broadband Genie (2010) Big Brother Really Is Watching You Online
Retrieved at: http://www.broadbandgenie.co.uk/news/20101020-big-brother-really-watching-online-will-latest-government-plans (Online), 20th October 2010

Clare Champion (2010) We Need To Protect Our Right To Privacy
Retrieved at: http://www.clarechampion.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3808:we-need-to-protect-our-right-to-privacy&catid=80:comment&Itemid=60 (Online), 17th October 2010

Cryptography (2002) Big Brother and Another Overblown Privacy Scare
Retrieved at: http://www.mail-archive.com/cryptography@wasabisystems.com/msg03229.html(Online), 18th October 2010

Cyberlaw (2010) Privacy Concerns – Are Social Networking Sites All To Blame?
Retrieved at: http://cyberlaw.org.au/2010/05/16/privacy-concerns-are-social-networking-sites-all-to-blame/ (Online), 21st October 2010

Harleyc (2005) Summary of James Rachels’ "Why Privacy Is Important"
Retrieved at: http://www.harleyc.com/duotang/docs/WhyPrivacyIsImportant.pdf
(Online), 18th October 2010

Jahne (2010) Social Networking Vs. Privacy
Retrieved at: http://www.jahne.com/information-and-removal/social-networking-vs-privacy/ (Online), 19th October 2010

NCBI (1999) Concerns About Privacy In Research May Be Exaggerated
Retrieved at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1116554/
(Online), 22nd October 2010

Privacy In Social Network Sites (2008) Privacy Risks For Users Of Social Network Sites
Retrieved at: http://privacyinsocialnetworksites.wordpress.com/
(Online), 21st October 2010

Sports Techy (2010) Facebook Embroiled In New Privacy Scare
Retrieved at: http://sports.tmcnet.com/news/2010/10/18/5075462.htm
(Online), 18th October 2010

TechYoYo (2010) Internet History Tracker – Bye Bye Privacy
Retrieved at: http://techyoyo.com/2010/02/internet-history-tracker-bye-bye-privacy/
(Online), 17th October 2010

BURMUDA TRIANGLE

FIND SHERIE'S BIKE

DON'T NOT FORGET

OR

SHE WILL GET

ANGRY

And The Oscar Goes Too.................

YOOOOO!!

Haha. Ok time to get serious!! I need to write a review on this course (New Communication Technology) and let everyone know what I think of it. Well, to tell you the truth........I actually like this course, besides a few boring lectures but that’s in most classes anyways. The teachers are great which is always the main thing people want to know before they start this course, I know I wanted to. I was afraid they were going to be strict and shit but they actually weren't. They're funny and awesome and they actually treat you like an adult. The next good thing about the course is in the tutorials.

In tutorials, the exercises we do in class are always fun and interactive. They're never boring. By the second class I had already made friends because of the exercises they had given us (30 second picture movie) which is great. There's also a wide range of activities we get given to do and their pretty easy too. Most activities only take about an hour to do. OOHHH I probably shouldn't say this but they never get angry if we're on Facebook while their talking or coming around. They don't care so that’s what I love about this course so pleeease don't change it. Now the lecture side of things.

I can't really say much about the lectures because I feel like I hardly went to many of them. I think I went to 8 or 9 of the lectures and most of them were good. Pretty informative on the topic covered. One thing they should do I fire that Virtual Reality dude and keep that hippie dude (Adam Muir) as that hippie dude was friggin awesome. He knew what he was on about with the internet and I like his whole conspiracy theory on Facebook and the CIA privacy thingy while the Virtual Reality dude (see I can't even remember his name) was sooooooooo boooooorrring and not to mention confusing. That lecture was the only lecture out of all lectures I've ever had, for any subject for that matter, where I have left feeling extremely confused and in tire need of wanting to run into a wall. My most favourite activity that I've don't so far would have to have been the Culture Jamming exercise where in groups you had to great a rumour and try and get it picked up by the media.

My group was soooooo close to getting it picked up by the media. We actually got asked to talked about it for the newspaper but unfortunately we couldn't (more like weren't) go further. Imagine if we had mwahh haha. I think that is all I have to say about this course. If there is anything I have forgotten then let me knoow aye!...Ohhh, one more thing before I head off........change task 8 (cyberpunk exercise), I don't get it. haha

NO GO, NO SHOW

Lecture Review 9 -

I unfortunately didn't come to this lecture because I thought we may have the same guy again we had from last week and I just could bear the thought of having to listen to him talk on and on about nonsense crap that nobody in the lecture would understand about. I asked a few people (who bothered to even go to lecture) what this lecture was about but most of the response I got back was it was confusing and not worth it. I'm glad I didn't bother to go but I'm also angry at myself because whatever is in the lecture could be on the test. And the lecture slide don't seem to work. There coming up with weird source codes. I don't know if that had something to do with the lecture but it's really annoying me. Lucky I did go to the tutorial though!!

We have been given another assignment based on one of the topics we have learnt in class so far. It's a 1000 word digital essay on our chosen topic. The topic that I have chosen to write about deals with the issue of privacy on the internet and how it's become such a controversial topic.

"Why is privacy such a contentious issue for internet users? Discuss with reference to at least ONE social network service (or other web2.0 service)".

I connected with this quote the most out of all the other 6 topics as it's something that I have a bit of understanding about. Not that I've had any privacy issues happen to me such as my accounts being hacked or people using my details without my permission but it's a topic that I feel strongly about. Everyone has a right to privacy on the internet but at the same time, a lot of our details that we don't what people knowing are being accessed by them anyways. You hear about Facebook accessing your account, without your knowledge and reading your emails and looking at your photos, ""Facebook is officially 'out', as in uncool, amongst partners, parents and pundits all coming to the realization that Zuckerberg and his company are - simply put - not trustworthy" states Stephen Hutcheon from The Sydney Morning Herald (SMH 2010). A lot of Facebook users don't know that. Now I think I should just stop here as I'm getting a little too carried away with this topic and I may end up posting my whole entire essay right now and give away all my good point. You guys are just gonna have to wait and see what I write. I'm not exactly sure how I'm going to write about this topic but all I know is that I'm not going to centralise the privacy topic on a certain website. I'm going to look at all the privacy issues on the internet and talk about them all in general..

Now again before I go I have to update you guys about how my groups culture jamming project is coming along. Did someone say "SHAZAM" haha because we actually got it picked up by the media. A newspaper reporter picked up the story and asked me if she could interview me about this topic and have it run through the paper (check photos on the bottom). YEESS!! We did it!!! It makes you believe though that you shouldn't believe everything you read or hear in the media because it may not be true. If our story did run in the paper, imagine how much crap Griffith would be in, not to mention us as we created the rumor. A lot of people would be outraged. I know I would be if I read this..

Screen Shots Of The Email That Was Sent Us (Click On Images To Make Them Appear Bigger As They Are Small To Read) -

References -

SMH (2010) Facebook founder feels the heat as privacy backlash rages by Stephen Hutcheon
Retrieved at: http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/digital-life-news/facebook-founder-feels-the-heat-as-privacy-backlash-rages-20100514-v38t.html
(Online), 24th September 2010

Virtual Dickhead

Lecture 8 Review -

What the hell was this lecture about? It has got to be the worst lecture I've been to so far since being at Uni. I had nooooo idea what the lecturer was on about. The lecturer didn't happen to be that hippie guy again, nor was it Josh or Jules. It happened to be this skinny white dude who goes by the name of.............. Sorry I actually forgot his name because I was too busy being in la la land since the speaker made no sense on what he was say and was boring. All I know what that the topic of the lecture was Virtual Philosophy and we watch a small snippet of a scene from The Matrix. I even asked the person who was sitting next to me if she had any clue to what he was on about, and not to my surprise she didn't either. In fact most people around the room looking they were sleeping, staring at the ceiling or just plain confused with what he was on about. From what I tried to gather from the information that I could comprehend was whether things created by the brain was real or not. Was it virtual reality and is it real? That’s what I believe he was trying to say. Josh & Jules, if you’re reading this, please please PLEASE don't ever have a lecture like that again!! Sooooooo boring.

Something we did learn in the lectur is William Gibson. Who is here you ask?
William Gibson, born in 1948, is perhaps the best known cyberpunk fiction writer out there and his books have solder of 10 million copies world wide. Gibson coined the term "Cyber Punk" is one of his short story "Burning Chrome". His books have become critically acclaimed and have inspired many other authors and writers alike.

Week 8 Task -
Cyberpunk -

What is "Cyberpunk"? Cyberpunk is a science fiction genre that deals with the advancement of technology and the negative effects it has on it's human society. This genre deals with all sorts of issue from powerful corporate companies that control the society to divided social order and even to man and machine. This genre is usually set in cluttered, super-urban cities with a strong dystopian feel (Mahalo 2010).

I have chosen to study and write about this certain topic as it is one that I feel will tremendously impact us later on in life, its even starting to affect us now with computer and gadgets doing everything for us now -


"Negative Impact of technology on humanity: In a cyberpunked near-future, technology runs rampant, and usually manipulates most societal interactions. Dystopian near futures are very common, but so are futures where the impacts of specific technologies are played out in a world only slightly different from the present. Sacred societal boundaries are often crossed with regularity. Often the earth is severely damaged. Crime and drug use are often key supporting themes."

I have found an artice that relates back to the Negative Impact of Technology in the Future and will incorporate the movie I-Robot into it.

Here is the news article that I have chosen to change -

Stop the war bots before they decide to kill us all, British scientist warns

AN Australian lecturer has warned of dangers to humanity if we continue further developing military robots. Dr Robert Sparrow, senior lecturer for the Centre for Human Bioethics at Monash University, says that unmanned weapons systems encourage war and can give the "illusion of a god-like power". Dr Sparrow is part of the International Committee for Robot Arms Control (ICRAC), a group dedicated to halting the development of robot weapons. Their online mission statement states: "Machines should not be allowed to make the decision to kill people." The committee held an "Expert Workshop" conference last month in Berlin to discuss the issues surrounding armed tele-operated and autonomous robot systems. It's headed by controversial British scientist Professor Noel Sharkey, a professor of Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and Public Engagement at Sheffield University Professor Sharkey has previously written about the dangers of autonomous war robots and their increasing decision-making capabilities, imagining "a little girl being zapped because she points her ice cream at a robot to share". A press release on the ICRAC website says the meeting was attended by government officials, representatives of human rights organizations, arms control experts, philosophers, scientists and engineers. The committee calls for restrictions on research and use of robotic weapons in their Statement of the 2010 Expert Workshop. They hope that these parameters will help "to prevent the nightmare, so often foretold, of the loss of human control over the maintenance of security, the use of lethal force and the conduct of war, and of its surrender to an armed, autonomous technology". However, the committee is not yet as concerned about Skynet waging war on the planet as they are about current robotic weapons. Dr Sparrow told news.com.au that they would obviously be concerned if someone created and armed an Artificial Intelligence, but that the committee's main concern is with existing systems and "the way in which they have lowered the threshold of conflict". He said the current robotic weapons "encourage governments to go to war where they otherwise wouldn’t be willing to because they think they can do it without incurring casualties in their own services". "It gives an illusion of a god-like power that they can kill all the ‘bad’ people and there are few if any political problems that can be solved that way." Citing Predator and Reaper drones used by the US military and the CIA against targets in Pakistan, Dr Sparrow said that the psychological separation provided by robot weapons between the attacker and their target is "complicated". "In some ways, the people flying the Predator or the Reaper (the main drones), they see more of the consequences of their actions than someone who’s firing a cruise missile or dropping a bomb," he said. "They actually see footage of the mangled corpses they leave behind. "At the same time what they’re doing looks perilously close to playing a video game." Robot weapons systems such as the drones have a reputation for deadly accuracy, but Dr Sparrow disputes this, saying that they cause significant rates of civilian casualties. "If someone thinks these are really discriminate weapons systems, the question I ask is 'would you be happy to have them operating over the city of Melbourne?'" The ICRAC's central members are Dr Sparrow, Professor Sharkey, German physicist and peace researcher Jürgen Altmann and American Professor Peter Asaro (News.com.au 2010).

Now after with the story of I-Robot incorporated into this article. The chosen words from I-Robot will be highlighted in Orange -

Stop the war bots before they decide to kill us all, British scientist warns

AN Australian lecturer has warned of dangers rogue robots killing humanity if we continue to further develop robots for military use. Dr Del Spooner, senior lecturer for the Centre for Human Bioethics at Monash University, says that robots created for military use encourage war and can give the "illusion of a god-like power". Dr Del Spooner, who dislikes the rapid advancement of technology, including robots, is part of the International Committee for Robot Arms Control (ICRAC), a group dedicated to halting the development of weapons. Their online mission statement states: "Machines should not be allowed to make the decision to kill people." The committee held an "Expert Workshop" conference last month in Berlin to discuss the issues surrounding armed tele-operated and autonomous robot systems. It's headed by controversial robotic USR (U.S. Robotics) robopsychologist, Dr Susan Calvin, a professor of Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and Public Engagement at Chicago University. Dr Del Spooner has previously written about the dangers of autonomous war robots and their increasing decision-making capabilities, imagining "a little girl being zapped because she points her ice cream at a robot or an old lady being stabbed to death because her robot refused to help her in the kitchen ". "We need to get rid of robots once and for all. They're becoming way to advance for their time and the rate we are going for robots to do everything for us, in the end they WILL KILL US" states Dr Del Spooner. The committee calls for restrictions on research and the use of robotic for military and the real world use. They hope that these parameters will help "to prevent the nightmare, so often foretold, of the loss of human control over the maintenance of security, the use of lethal force and the conduct of war, and of its surrender to an armed, autonomous technology". However, the committee is not yet as concerned about Skynet waging war on the planet as they are about current robotic weapons. Dr Del Spooner told news.com.au that they would obviously be concerned if someone created and armed an Artificial Intelligence, but that the committee's main concern is with existing systems that have started to make up their mind, own their own, and do thing without human input such as turning on a car and driving by itself. Dr Del Spooner said the current robotic weapons "encourage governments to go to war where they otherwise wouldn’t be willing to because they think they can do it without incurring casualties in their own services". "It gives an illusion of a god-like power that they can kill any people, good or bad, and robotic weapons between the attacker and their target is "complicated". However, Dr Susan Calvin disputes this, saying that they (robots) can never hurt anyone, They just can't, it's impossible for them as their only pieces of equipment with no brains. Dr Del Spooner disputes this, stating that "If someone thinks these are really discriminate weapons systems, the question I ask is 'would you be happy to have them operating over the city of Melbourne?" (News.com.au 2010).

OK again before I head off I just want to let you guys know how my groups culture jam project is coming along. All I can say is "YEAH BABY" haha. It is going fantastically. My group and I have just created a Facebook page and a Facebook group on this Griffith parking rumor (check the pictures at the bottom). We have all started to invite our friends and we are trying to get them to pass the invitation along to other people. There is another Facebook group on Griffith parking that has 75 friends on it which is what we need to beat first. Hopefully someone from the media comes along and picks up this topic!!!

Here is the link -

http://www.facebook.com/#%21/group.php?gid=153480694680777&ref=ts


Enjoy and get ALL your friends to join and support us. Who knows this rumor could even be real !!


Screen Shots Of Culture Jam Facebook Project -








References -

News.com.au (2010)
Retrieved at: http://www.news.com.au/technology/australian-bioethicist-warns-of-robopocalypse/story-e6frfro0-1225934861279
(Online), 8th October 2010

Mahalo (2010), Cyberpunk
Retrieved at: http://www.mahalo.com/cyberpunk
(Online), 15th September 2010

REEESSEEARRCCHH : )

Lecture 7 Task -


Research and provide short answers to the following questions. Provide references where applicable.


1. What is creative commons and how could this licensing framework be relevant to your own experience at university? -

Creative Commons is a not for profit organization based in San Francisco, California, United States. They specialise in creating free softwares, licences and tools for people to legally download via their websites (CC, 2010). I've so far never had to use this website, probably because I've never heard of it till now. Since I'm doing an art course this would probably help me quite alot when it comes to trying to find photos or videos. What CC allows me to do is that I am able to use someone elses work and change it to the way I want and not get punish for it, unless I try to claim it has my own. I am also able to obtain a free licence through CC and let other people use and change my art work to however they wany to. I'm pretty sure I'm going to use this website in the next year or so as it will help with my assignments in the near future.


2. Find 3 examples of works created by creative commons and embed them in your blog. -

This video I have found is made by a group of amateur film makers. They call themselves the "Midnightchimes2" (metacafe 2010). This is a parody music video on sexual relations and is licensed by Creative Commons.

The next video I have found is a 28 minute long video called "Out Of Order" (Why Video 2010). Is a mash up of photos, animated and non-animated footages joined together to make this long video. I'll let you guys watch it instead of me describing it as it's quite funny and neat on how they have made this video.

And the last video I found is more of an educational video on Creative Commons and how users can take advantage of their websites. Its an educational and comedy video all in one made using animation. It's neat and nicely done and the band "The White Stripes" are the main protagonist in this short film.




3. Find an academic article which discusses creative commons using a database or online journal. Provide a link to and a summary of the article. -

The article I found on Creative Commons talks about how this not for profit organization has become bit of a social movement in our times creating "a platform for a wide range of ideologies that share an interest in enhancing access to works" (SSRN 2005). But also at the same time Creative Commons lacks prerequisites for open access to creative works.

Here is the link -

http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=760906

4. Have a look at Portable Apps (a pc based application) – provide a brief description of what it is and how you think this is useful. -

Portable Apps is a website that offers free fully open source platforms that are be able to be download via their website (PortableApps (2010). This website allows you to download a software to a portable device such as a USB stick or an iPod and use it on any computer without having to continuously download it on to every computer you go on to. I think this website is fantastic because most of the popular software programs that people download are all in one area, and also there is a wide variety of applications people can download from games to utilities to security software's and even internet programs. Now that I know this website exists I'm going to even use it.


Refrences -

CC (2010), Creative Commons Australia
Retrieved at: http://creativecommons.org.au/
(Online), 7th September 2010

Metacafe (2010), Midnightchimes2
Retrieved at: http://www.metacafe.com/channels/midnightchimes2/
(Online), 7th September 2010

PoratbleApps (2010), Portable Apps
Retrieved at: http://portableapps.com/
(Online), 7th September 2010

SSRN (2005), What Contracts Can't Do: The Limits of Private Ordering in Facilitating a Creative Commons
Retrieved at: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=760906
(Online) 7th September 2010

Why Video (2010), Out Of Order Video: Creative Commons Grab Bag
Retrieved at: http://video.whyy.org/video/1484207480/
(Online), 7th September 2010

YouTube (2010), Creative Commons - Get Creative
Retrieved at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=io3BrAQl3so
(Online), 7th September 2010

The Hippie With The High IQ Part II: Nerd Strikes Back

Lecture 7 Review -

Yes..... again we have the hippie. YAY!! You know this lecture is going to be interesting with there is a hippie standing up in front of the classroom staring at whiteboard. Adam Muir his name is, and today, he was talking about how companies control the use of their programs/systems such as Microsoft and Apple by limiting with what we, as in users, can do with it. What I mean by this is by changing its source code. This is called "Proprietary Software". A lot of software and computer developers claim feel that proprietary software’s limit with what they are wanting to create or change to make it run better on their computer. Software and computer developers then retaliated by creating a "Free Software" where anyone change download it for free and change the source codes to the way they like. What is a source code I hear you ask?

Source code is where computers create code that refers to the programming language one uses to write a program. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of forms of source code (Wise Geek 2010). The source code is what makes a computer and its programs to work. Historically, software USED to be free until companies such as Adobe; Apple & Microsoft came in and started charging people to use its software. Source codes allow a user to change the instructions of a program and improve it to however they want.

This was very interesting for me. I've never heard of this term "Proprietary Software" before, nor free software’s on the internet for us to download. I thought we could only buy them or download the illegally. Who would want free software? Is it any better than say Microsoft’s version? These were all the thoughts that were running through my head at the time.

Free software is pretty much the same as licensed software, you just have more freedom to do what you and how you want to create it. The "free software" debate was all started by just one guy, name Richard Stallman. Mr Stallman felt that propriety software was demeaning to all users of the software and that everyone had a right o change the source codes to whatever they liked. He then retaliated creating a free software for everyone called " GNU" where everyone and anyone is able to download a program and change the source codes to whatever they liked. This sparked a massive debate on whether companies like Apple and Adobe could follow in the same footsteps.

This is really interesting as Adam stated that he ONLY uses free software’s and a lot of people in the lecture seem to agree. Maybe I should give it ago and see what all the fuss is about. If it can do the same thing as Microsoft and Apple then I'm sold.

Now before I head off I have to tell you guys about my group’s culture jam assignment. As you guys know we are going to be culture jamming about Parking. Well, we have decided to make up a rumor about Griffith Uni's parking problem. We're all passionate about it, probably because we can never find a parking spot when we arrive. The rumor is going to be about how Griffith Uni has sold off it's undercover parking complex to the Government for it 3000+ workers that will be onsite everyday helping construct the new Gold Coast Hospital, and also how Griffith Uni will be increasing its parking prices by 50%. Now this rumor would sure to get a lot of people angry, don't you guys think? I just hope we can get it pick up by the media!! This would be SO AWSOME if we did. We haven't decided how we're going to get this rumor started buy we will let you guys know soon!!

References -

Wise Geek (2010), What Is A Source Code?
Retrieved at: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-source-code.htm
(Online), 7th September 2010

Step Up And Get Your Free Download

FREE SOFTWARE TRIAL -

The software I decided to trial was Limewire. Why? Because of free music of course (maybe I shouldn't say that). I don't like to illegally download free music as I do feel bad that I'm not paying my part to the artist who have worked hard to get where they want, but hey, I'm poor haha. What is Limewire I here you ask?

Limewire is a free peer-to-peer file sharing software, otherwise known as P2P (cnet.com 2010). You can share just about anything from this software such as videos, documents, music, photos etc. Limewire can be used on any operating system that supports the Java Software platform (cnet.com 2010). I've only used Limewire a couple of times at a friends place but I've never had it on my own computer...till now! I thought "why not", so went to http://www.limewire.com/ and downloaded the latest software version.

I've only used this for a couple of hours now and it’s pretty easy to use. It takes about 10 minutes or less to understand how to use this program, it’s that easy. My first search was looking for Kanye West's new song "Power". As soon as I typed this in and pressed "ENTER", a million hits started popping up. Luckily I already knew how to use this because otherwise, I would have had know idea which one to download. Usually you download the one that has the most people downloading from it and usually up the top. As soon as I clicked the top song, it started to download on the bottom. You can pause the download, stop the download and even hear the preview before you fully downloaded the music just in case there is anything in the song that you don't feel is right such as missing gaps in the song or dodgy sound. Lucky my internet is fast as it only took about 3 minutes to download or less to the full song.

From there, it is saved in your Limewire file that is save on your hard drive. It’s a search for it at first because you don't know what you’re looking for but it was in the most obvious place on my computer, or anyone’s computer for that matter. The file folder is usually saved under your "DOCUMENTS" folder. I clicked on the Limewire folder, found my song, doubled clicked on it and hey, PRESTO, the song opened up my iTunes and started playing perfectly. There are a few criticisms about Limewire though.

The main criticism about Limewire is that if you download too many songs as once it can slow down your computer, which did happen to mine many times when I was trying to download many songs at once. Also some music that you do download is horrible in quality. Some are missing gaps or feel like they've been re-recorded numerous times and you have to turn your speakers up full blast in order to hear the songs, at most times trebly. Another main criticism about Limewire is that you have to be careful with what you download as you can download a nasty virus such as a Trojan or a malware virus and in some cases, you can have your personal information stolen (wikihow 2010). Will I continue using Limewire?

Answer: No! Why? Probably because I don't like to download music through P2P file sharing software's because the risk of downloading a virus or having my personal information stolen. I know that most people use Limewire as it's easy to use, a wide variety of downloadable programs and its free. I'm a big fan of having a cd and the bookwork that comes with it. It’s pretty easy to uninstall the program.

Just open up Windows, open up control panel and select "Add or Remove Programs". From there find Limewire and select uninstall and it takes about 2 seconds to take the software off your computer. The only thing you have to do it delete the "Limewire" folder from you Documents folder and then just empty your trash can. Although if want to keep the music you've already just downloaded, move the music from the "Limewire" folder and place it anywhere you want in your documents folder or any other folder for that matter, and then you can delete the "Limewire folder". It’s pretty easy!!

What do I rate Limewire out of 10: 6/10

Pros: Free, Easy to use, great selection of things you can download, fast and easy to uninstall.

Cons: Too many selections, can slow your computer down if you download too many songs at once, viruses and people can steal your information and some music that you do download are terrible on quality.


References -

cnet.com (2010) Limewire 5.5.14
Retrieved at: http://download.cnet.com/limewire/
(Online), 7th September 2010

wikihow (2010) How To Avoid Downloading A Virus From Limewire
Retrieved at: http://www.wikihow.com/Avoid-Downloading-a-Virus-from-Limewire
(Online), 7th September 2010

YouTube (2007) Limewire Tutorial
Retrieved at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Prq40JcRz-k
(Online) 7th September 2010

The Hippy With A High IQ

Lecture Review 6 -

Today’s lecture we pretty sweeet. Really it was. Bravo for whose ever idea it was on this topic. I found listening to this hippy really interesting. And duude I’m not being sarcastic. Adam Muir his name was and he talked about New Media & the Internet. It was really interesting. I had no idea there was an internet crash before the 90's and apparently because of that there is a new internet called Web 2.0. He talked about how there are many theorist out there that have studied the internet before it became popular and how there were virtual communities being formed.

This I thought was very interesting. I already knew about individual identity and how people use the internet to show who they are. For example, this blog and how it is laid out and compares it to someone else’s who has completely re-arranged their blog and put in a different background picture. We both have different identities. The hippy raised some really interesting questions at the end of his lecture that we were going to discuss in the tutorials like - Who owns the content you put on the internet such as on Facebook, YouTube or MySpace, and, do you own the rights to this stuff.

Listening to other peoples view about these 2 question in the tutorial we very surprising. Most people believe, like me, that we have no right to stuff we put on the internet. Once it’s up they have every right to do what ever they please with it. And that’s kind of freaky when you really think about it. I really wouldn't like some Facebook employee using my photos they way they like without my permission. Some people in my class have even said they've had people use their pictures without their permission on other website and you have to send and email to the headquarters to have it taken down. Weird right?? Anyways, all in all this was a very good lecture and the hippy did a really good job. I hope we do get to listen to him some more soon!!

Before I go, my group and I have finally decided on a rumour we are making for our "Culture Jamming" assignment. I'm not gonna give too much away but we all feel very passionate about this topic and we think something should be done about it. It’s something to do with.......drum roll please.......PARKING!!! Your probably thinking "Why they hell would they choose to do parking"?? Well, your just gonna have to wait and see what we are going to do with parking and hopefully a newspaper will pick it up!!!!


Tutespark -

Who owns the content you put on the internet on various sites? -
That content that we (users) put up on any website is not ours to own. No mater what we put up or displayed such as putting up videos or photos, music and even comments. Usually in the terms and conditions (which most people never read), it clearly states that anything we put up belongs to the website. For example Facebook, here is what part of their terms and conditions say on what belongs to us and what belongs to them -

1. For content that is covered by intellectual property rights, like photos and videos ("IP content"), you specifically give us the following permission, subject to your privacy and application settings: you grant us a non-exclusive, transferable, sub-licensable, royalty-free, worldwide license to use any IP content that you post on or in connection with Facebook ("IP License"). This IP License ends when you delete your IP content or your account unless your content has been shared with others, and they have not deleted it (Facebook.com 2010).

2. When you delete IP content, it is deleted in a manner similar to emptying the recycle bin on a computer. However, you understand that removed content may persist in backup copies for a reasonable period of time (but will not be available to others) (Facebook.com 2010).

We don't have any right to anything we put on. Companies have every right to do what they want with it to. If they want to use you comments to turn into a book then they will do that. You won't get any royalties or anything.

This includes pictures, video, text, etc? -
Yes! This includes EVERYTHING we put up on any website no matter what it is from videos to photos to music. As I stated before in question 1, we don't have any right with what happens to our information. Companies have every right to do what they want with it.

Think about all the content you upload onto social networking sites - Do you own it? -
Technically speaking No! Even though we took the photos or video and the bio and information is all about us, once it goes on to a website like Facebook then THEY own it. That’s where allot of people get confused. They say they own and no one has any right to use their stuff with out their permission but legally companies can because of what is said in their Terms and Conditions.

Who has the right to use your creations? -
Companies have every right to use our creations as it's usually stated in their Terms & Conditions. If they what to use your photo as an advertising campaign then they will, without your permission, If they want to sell your information, again they can without your permission. We, as users, don't have any legal right with what happens to our information once we have uploaded it to the company’s website.


References -

Facebook.com (2010) Terms & Conditions
Retrieved at: http://www.facebook.com/terms.php
(Online) 7th September 2010

Jamming With Culture Jackson

Lecture Review 5 -

Again i didn't go to today's lecture because I had to go buy dvds from Big W because they were only $5 dollaz eeaaach. What a bargain aye! $5. So I had to go early before all the good ones went hahaha. Again I read the lecture in the course content at Learning at Griffith. I kind of wish i went to this one as reading it is really boring. But from what I've read its about how we, as consumers, are displayed content such as advertising on the big screen or on TV etc. I didn't read much as it was really boring. However, I learnt more in my tutes by Jules who explained to me that we are "Culture Jamming". What is Culture Jamming I hear you ask? Well my fellow negro, Culture Jamming is where consumers disrupt mainstream social movement. Basically trying to change the world for the best utilizing the media. Culture jamming re-figure logos, fashion statements, and product images to challenge the idea of "what's cool," along with assumptions about the personal freedoms of consumption. Now with the idea of culture jamming in our heads, my group and I need to create a rumor in order for us to change the world, well in our case the city of GOLD COAST haha. I will let you guys know soon what this rumor will be once we have finalised it.


Tutespark Questions -

1. What Is The First Considered Culture Jam?
I can't find when or what was this first culture jam but I can say how culture jam was shown to the public. Before email became popular (1990's) markets and organizations relied heavily on print materials such as newspapers and magazines, but one print that usually got people talking and looking was billboards. A well known company that specialises in marketing on billboards is the Billboard Liberation Front (Center For Communication & Civic Engagement 2010). This is an group of culture jammers that are devoted to improving and/or radically changing key words to alter a message (see pictures)








2. What Is The Most Influential Culture Jam?
I can't seem to find anything on what is the most influential culture jam, but I don't think there is a right or wrong answer as this is a matter of opinion, right? Well, for me, the most influential culture jam is the Nike story (see question 3 for more detail). I never head of Nike using sweatshop kids to make their clothing until late 2002 or 2003 in high school for an assignment of child laborers. When I found out I stopped buying Nike clothes altogether. I could support a high profile company that was doing this. Weren't they supposed to be changing this, not supporting. I looked up to Nike when I was growing up. The athletes who wore or were sponsored by Nike made me want to wear it. Everything they standard for I believed in. A lot of people who I spoke to about this feel the same was as I do on this subject. They thought it was influential as when this came out, it was all over the front pages of newspapers and magazines, internet forums we coming out expressing their great dislike over what Nike was doing. It ruined their reputation big time. Although, honestly, I still do at times buy their products if I really like it. Hey I know what your thinking "man he's contradicting himself here". I know but I just can't help it, these sweatshop kids make some really cool shoes but that still doesn't change the fact that their only being paid like 50cents for a 12 hour work shift. NIKE YOU NEED TO CHANGE BIG TIME!!!!







3. What Is The Most Damaging Culture Jam?
The most influential culture jam was probably in 2001 when political activist took a swipe a giant athletic brand Nike for the companies dealing in Third World countries. "Nike is seen as a high profile example of a company that cares more about its brand image than the human rights in Third World countries" (Micheletti, Follesdal & Stolle 2006, p. 127). The story goes like this....Back in 2001, Nike began a custom made shoe for order online on their website and you could have an I.D written on your shoes with a choice of colour. Well, Jonah Peretti, a internet entrepreneur and the founder of BuzzFeed and Hufington Post, tried to buy a custom pair of Nike shoes with the word "Sweatshop" as his i.d because he wanted to remember the toil and labor of the child that made his shoes. Nike, however, felt that this word was a little too close to heart and decided to send him a little email explaining why he was not able to have that i.d. From there countless emails were exchanged between Peretti and Nike about the use of this word, until, Peretti decided to send an email to his friends containing these emails (see bottom for email). This email sparked a chain and was emailed from friends to other friends until it because viral and millions of people had hold or read on websites about this email. This emails damaged Nike's reputation as athletic brand and as a high profile human rights company. Nike responded in its own way but deciding to play on with these emails and launched numerous campaigns (see pictures).




The shoes that started all this.........






NIKE SWEATSHOP EMAILS (2001) -
From: "Personalize, NIKE iD"
To: "'Jonah H. Peretti'"
Subject: RE: Your NIKE iD order o16468000
Your NIKE iD order was cancelled for one or more of the following reasons.
1) Your Personal iD contains another party's trademark or other intellectual property.2) Your Personal iD contains the name of an athlete or team we do not have the legal right to use.3) Your Personal iD was left blank. Did you not want any personalization?4) Your Personal iD contains profanity or inappropriate slang, and besides, your mother would slap us.
If you wish to reorder your NIKE iD product with a new personalization please visit us again at www.nike.com
Thank you,
NIKE iD



From: "Jonah H. Peretti"
To: "Personalize, NIKE iD"
Subject: RE: Your NIKE iD order o16468000
Greetings,
My order was canceled but my personal NIKE iD does not violate any of the criteria outlined in your message. The Personal iD on my custom ZOOM XC USA running shoes was the word "sweatshop." Sweatshop is not: 1) another's party's trademark, 2) the name of an athlete, 3) blank, or 4) profanity. I choose the iD because I wanted to remember the toil and labor of the children that made my shoes. Could you please ship them to me immediately.
Thanks and Happy New Year,
Jonah Peretti




From: "Personalize, NIKE iD"
To: "'Jonah H. Peretti'"
Subject: RE: Your NIKE iD order o16468000Dear NIKE iD Customer,Your NIKE iD order was cancelled because the iD you have chosen contains, as stated in the previous e-mail correspondence, "inappropriate slang".
If you wish to reorder your NIKE iD product with a new personalization please visit us again at www.nike.com
Thank you,NIKE iD




From: "Jonah H. Peretti"
To: "Personalize, NIKE iD"
Subject: RE: Your NIKE iD order o16468000
Dear NIKE iD,
Thank you for your quick response to my inquiry about my custom ZOOM XC USA running shoes. Although I commend you for your prompt customer service, I disagree with the claim that my personal iD was inappropriate slang. After consulting Webster's Dictionary, I discovered that "sweatshop" is in fact part of standard English, and not slang. The word means: "a shop or factory in which workers are employed for long hours at low wages and under unhealthy conditions" and its origin dates from 1892. So my personal iD does meet the criteria detailed in your first email.
Your web site advertises that the NIKE iD program is "about freedom to choose and freedom to express who you are." I share Nike's love of freedom and personal expression. The site also says that "If you want it done right...build it yourself." I was thrilled to be able to build my own shoes, and my personal iD was offered as a small token of appreciation for the sweatshop workers poised to help me realize my vision. I hope that you will value my freedom of expression and reconsider your decision to reject my order.
Thank you,Jonah Peretti




From: "Personalize, NIKE iD"
To: "'Jonah H. Peretti'"
Subject: RE: Your NIKE iD order o16468000Dear NIKE iD Customer,
Regarding the rules for personalization it also states on the NIKE iD web site that "Nike reserves the right to cancel any Personal iD up to 24 hours after it has been submitted".
In addition it further explains:
"While we honor most personal iDs, we cannot honor every one. Some may be (or contain) others' trademarks, or the names of certain professional sports teams, athletes or celebrities that Nike does not have the right to use. Others may contain material that we consider inappropriate or simply do not want to place on our products.
Unfortunately, at times this obliges us to decline personal iDs that may otherwise seem unobjectionable. In any event, we will let you know if we decline your personal iD, and we will offer you the chance to submit another."
With these rules in mind we cannot accept your order as submitted.
If you wish to reorder your NIKE iD product with a new personalization please visit us again at www.nike.com
Thank you, NIKE iD


From: "Jonah H. Peretti"
To: "Personalize, NIKE iD"
Subject: RE: Your NIKE iD order o16468000Dear NIKE iD,Thank you for the time and energy you have spent on my request. I have decided to order the shoes with a different iD, but I would like to make one small request. Could you please send me a color snapshot of the ten-year-old Vietnamese girl who makes my shoes?
Thanks,
Jonah Peretti
{no response}


References -


Center For Communication & Civic Engagement (2010), Culture Jamming Culture Jamming and Meme-based Communication
Retrieved at: http://depts.washington.edu/ccce/polcommcampaigns/CultureJamming.htm
(Online, 07 September, 2010


Micheletti, Michele, Follesdal, Andreas & Stolle, Dietlind 2006, "Politics, Products and Markets" Exploring Political Consumerisim Past and Present", Transaction Publishers, New Brunswick, New Jersey


Nike Sweatshop Emails (2001) the life of an internet meme
Retrieved at: http://www.shey.net/niked.html
(Online), 07 September, 2010

Loony Loomie

Lecture Review 4 -

Today's lecture was kind of boring, No offense to Jules or Josh as you guys were great, but I kind of already knew this stuff as I was told this but Albert Moran who is my Introduction To Screen Analysis teacher. However, you guys put so much effort to lectures that I did pay attention. There were a very things that I didn't know such as when the first commercial video player was released and how much it cost. Its really amazing how far film has come from first being released by the Lumiere Brothers to now being 3D (which is a gimmick). I would love have to been born in the early 1900's in Paris and witness the birth of film. I don't really think the Lumiere Brother knew how much film now plays a vital role in our lives. We watch it for entertainment, to escape our boring lives and imagine being in someone elses shoes. The Lumiere Brothers paved away generations of new film makers. I think we really ow it to them!! I do anyways. Whats also interesting is how far the actual cinema has come. Being shown in little theater rooms to megaplexes with massive screens and surround sound. Its fantastic. What was really interesting, that I didn't know, what Australia was the only country set up to regularly produce feature-length films before 1911. Now that I didn't know. So how come you don't here about this. Usually Australia is proud of its film culture so wouldn't you think something like this info most people would know. I really would like to see this films made in Australia!!

JEWISH PIMP

Movies That Will Never Win An Oscar

Internet ONLY Movies!!

Here is another assessment piece for New Communication Technologies. For this piece we had to find 3 or 4 short film made PURELY for the internet ONLY!!!

This website, inetfilm.com, is purely a site for internet movies. Its for amateur film makers. Kind of like YouTube, but in order for your movies to be shown on this website they need to have a storyline, unlike most YouTube clips which are most of the time stupid clips (inetfilm.com 2010). This movie called "Vendetta" is about a rogue Santa Clause. Its a reminiscence of the old 80's cop shows. Unfortunatly I was unable to download the full length movie, but, don't fear as I have found part 1 on YouTube. Although if part 1 makes you want to watch the rest then here is the website on where you can watch the full length movie -

http://inetfilm.com/movies/action/vendetta.php

This next film found on YouTube, is created by a group of young Melbourne film makers called SuperWog1 (YouTube 2010). All I can say is about this short film is....watch it, However, PARENTAL GUIDANCE RECOMMENDED!!

This next films, created by Shane Dawson for his channel on YouTube, is an amature film producer (YouTube 2010). All I can say about this film is that its funny and that you need to watch it...A.S.A.P. haha

Lecture Review 3 -

I was unfortunately unable to make it to this lecture as I fell. Hahaha. However, I did review the content that Jules & Josh put up on Learning At Griffith. I really wish I hadn't missed out on this lecture as reading it was really interesting so it probably would have been more fascinating coming from the lecturers. The lecture was about the internet and how it was created and became popular. I've always wondered about this question - "How was the internet created and when"? I always thought it was Bill Gates but he created Microsoft and he is a billionaire, yet, we don't know who created the internet and why isn't he or she mega rich?? It’s interesting to learn how each company became started and what they became known for - Microsoft for its software and Apple for their single circuit boards. What was more interesting was how the internet was created but it was still a little confusing. What was even way more interesting was how the web became popular around the 1990's. That I didn't know as I always thought the internet was popular since the early 80's. Probably because I grew up with the internet I just thought that. It was really surprising that people only really started to know the webs true potential from the 90's. It’s really interesting how far the internet has come. In 2 decades, the internet has gone from being only recognised to a must have thing in every home and what the internet is able to do for us now. I can't imagine living without it in anyway. I wonder how people before the 90's really got their information.

References -

inetfilm.com (2010) Vendetta: A Christmas Story Retrieved at: http://inetfilm.com/movies/action/vendetta.php (Online), 16th August 2010

YouTube (2010) How To Be A Bimbo (Slut) With Superwog Retrieved at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JHI-19Crvg&feature=player_embedded (Online), 16th August 2010

YouTube (2010) Ghetto Prom From Hell Retrieved at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SujI9V9RVf8&feature=player_embedded (Online), 16th August 2010