You'll soon learn that Unit 6 deals alot with current events. In fact, it almost entirly current events and how you can apply old ideas and values to them. Expect to know exactly what happened 5 seconds ago for a run through. Your judges will and they will not hesitate to call you out on out dated information.
That being said, I figure with the recent buzz about internet privacy, this would be a nice thing to talk about. These links aren't cutting edge new, but they'll be nough to start your thinking on the subject.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-31001_3-20006314-261.html
http://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewarticle/articleid/4144408
http://mybroadband.co.za/news/broadband/12757-What-does-piracy-really-cost.html
http://www.northbynorthwestern.com/2010/05/80894/piracy-and-privacy/
Privacy on the internet is a huge deal right now. I've bet you've seen the "Facebook virtual suicides" over its privacy policy, and I'm sure you're atleast seen what the RIAA and Comcast are trying to do to Congress in terms of internet neutrality.
What do you think about this? Have you ever pirated anything? What is your stance on net neutrality?
Remember Unit 6, time lag no longer exists. You have no excuse for having yesterdays information. You don't even have an excuse to have this mornings information. Keep up with newspapers, NPR, and anything you can get your hands on. I'd recomend Freedom 570 AM. Although it is very polarizing and republican, atleast they talk about politics and not the value of ugly fruit like NPR does.
Unit 6 signing off, see you this Wensday.
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While I personally have not participated in the illegal download of songs or movies, it is primarily a result of my fear of the repercussions if caught. That being said, however, I do firmly believe in the idea of network neutrality. The internet is a way in which people can share information effortlessly and efficiently. Over the past few years, technological advances have made the possibilities endless. Now large movie files are only a click away and entire albums can be downloaded in a matter of minutes. While companies may feel as if they are suffering incredible monetary losses as a result, I feel that it does not give them the ability to take away one’s rights to freely access the internet. By practicing network neutrality, it will be ensured that people are able to maintain their rights to freedom when surfing the World Wide Web. My view is further influenced by the idea that companies inflate their losses. The Business Software Alliance reported a $51.4 billion loss due to piracy. The RIAA, however, quoted that it was only $12.5 billion. Companies are so focused on money that they are willing to inflate figures to sway decisions within the government. They are willing to seize the rights of citizens for their own monetary gain. Nicolas Chartier, co-founder of the company Voltage, is unrelenting in his pursuit of those who illegally downloaded “The Hurt Locker.” While I can understand the company’s anger at their loss in money, it is unacceptable that the company has already acquired the IP addresses of 5,000 people who supposedly downloaded the movie. Voltage – and companies in similar situations – should not spend time chasing down the supposed perpetrators, but rather invest in ways that will promote file sharing while giving them a profit. In this way, net neutrality will serve to promote internet freedom, while allotting companies the money which they desire. Ultimately, I believe that while piracy may be illegal, it is unconstitutional for companies to restrict the digital rights of individuals for monetary gain. Network neutrality is one way in which both the aforementioned rights of individuals can be protected and companies will still be able to make a profit.
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ReplyDeleteI have not downloaded files illegally, but have shared music with my friends. This constitutes the same "loss" to record companies, but is nearly impossible to control. Attempts at restricting illegal downloads are therefore futile because people will always find a way around it. Efforts to eradicate it will end up costing even more rather than making up for monetary loss. Also, as Amanda stated, the companies inflate their losses that are unrealistic figures to begin with. People who download illegally generally would not have bothered to go out and purchase the music or movies. They would have done without, which significantly weakens the companies' argument of monetary loss.
ReplyDeleteI also believe in net neutrality as a way to ensure freedom and equality on the internet. We have this amazing technology at our fingertips, and should allow it to be utilized to its full potential. By allowing this freedom, more will get information about products or artists that will ultimately increase profit for the companies. The cost of illegal downloads is largely offset by the increase in purchases because people find out about it on the internet or from friends. Although piracy should be discouraged, costly attempts to stop it will only result in less motivation to actually purchase the files and restriction of constitutional freedoms of individuals.
Movies and music accessed before they are officially released significantly lower the number of paying customers by preventing the need to pay for the material. In May, a Brooklyn, New York man was one of 15 men to be charged with piracy. The prosecutorof this particular case, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay V. Prabhu offered, "our hope is that [this case] will deter people from pirating material on the internet." It is probably safe to say that one court case will not resolve piracy altogether, despite its best intentions.
ReplyDeletePrabhu additionally states, the intellectual property industry has estimated that the money [lost] to piracy is in the billions of dollars." While the government's attempt to eradicate piracy is honorable and undoubtedly backed up by a myriad of facts and figures, they are wasting valuable time and money. More money will be spent on stopping the ever-evolving crime than is being lost as a result of it. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Operation FastLink, which is the international effort to shut down piracy groups, more than 200 search warrants exectued in fifteen countries have resulted. Ultimately, piraters will always find a way to go about their business, and the United States givernment is simply incapable of entirely and single-handedly "deter[ing] people from pirating material on the internet."
I also have never downloaded music or videos or files illegally, but I can see how and why people would. It is very easy for people to download illegally, and it doesn't cost money, hence the illegality, so it would be an act that many people would partake in. Although it is prohibited by the government, it is hard to control this because so much is open on the internet, and the internet is just so big. It can also be thought of as unconstitutional to track peoples' internet use-the site they're on, what they're doing. The FISA has some controvery about it's constitutionality and morality, because: "The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), born after the Watergate scandal, establishes how the government can secretly eavesdrop on Americans in their own country in intelligence investigations." It's very difficult to decide what is "right" when it comes to internet surveillance because is it "right" for the government to watch the American people, even if they think people are participating in illegal activities? That's a hard question to answer. Sometimes, the answer isn't set in stone, and there has to be a balance and compromise. Maybe there is a way to limit the amount of surveying the government actually does? If there is not surveillance though, there is really no way to stop people from downloading illegally. It's a double-edged sword.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I have not pirated anything based off of movies and/or music. The only thing that I have done is I have shared music with friends. I honestly don't believe that this is a crime becuase the music has already been paid for and friends can share the music between others. I believe that internet neutrality is very important because many people do not take pride in being kind and others list everything about their lives. Companies who take part in the internet have problems with people pirating things from the internet which causes the loss of money and buisness from these different companies. I believe that Congress should continue to go on trying to go on with creating more privacy settihngs. In conclusion, it's hard to prevent people from commiting piracy, but it should try to be prevented.
ReplyDeleteI have never downloaded any songs and/or movies illegally. The farthest I have gone with this is burning cd's and sharing my music with my friends. I find this okay because as long as I am not reselling it for profit, then there should not be a problem. Although downloading music and movies illegally is only a click away, I can see why companies would be upset by this. By downloading illegally, compaines are losing money they could have. As for internet neutrality, I strongly support it. It allows people to communicate, and express themselves in ways we cannot show. It also gives another sense of freedom. We can use the internet for so many different things, advertising, buying, and again communication. The rate of pirating, can easily be decreased with the rate at which music/products/movies etc. are advertised. I believe that privacy is something that is very hard to come by now, but Congress can continue to do their best to stop illegal activity.
ReplyDeleteI agree that record and media companies are exaggerating the harm that illegal downloading actually does to them. Their logic that every time someone downloads illegally a sale is lost is misguided and merely a way for them to try to get what they want. The majority of people who download illegally would rather just go without the movie or song than over pay for it. Also, these companies are obviously not in dire financially strain as the entertainment industry is as popular and widespread as every. Additionally, I agree that one could go so far as to say that illegal downloads could actually help artists. It gives them easy and free publicity among a large population, which makes their concerts and merchandise in higher demand. Despite this, I do think that illegal downloads being sold for profit is wrong. Not only is it against the law, but it is profiting off of illegal activities as opposed to using it solely for personal enjoyment and promotion of the artist. Piracy is not only a legal issue, but a moral issue as well. The main reason that I do not download illegally is that I could not, in good conscious, essentially steal a piece of media that so many people worked so hard on. However, a huge amount of people are willing to do this because they feel protected by their computer. The same people who download movies and songs everyday would never walk into a store and steal a DVD or CD, which leads us to a bigger problem. The internet is changing the way people act because the computer screen makes them feel secure and invincible. Overall, it would be nearly impossible for the government to monitor every citizens online activities. Due to this, people must uphold their usual morals by following their values and the cliched "golden rule" when navigating the internet.
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