Anonymity is a must for a free society

[Remmert-Fontes Ricardo Cristof]

Hi,

although I am on this list for a long time, I haven't been able to get
myself into the discussions for several reasons.

However, let me introduce myself first shortly.
I was one of the guys mainly organizing the protest against data
retention in Germany and coordinating the "international action day
"Freedom Not Fear" 2007/2008 and after a breakup still working on the
topics of privacy and surveillance, but now for a registered org.
Actually we have focussed more on the european security architecture and
especially on the topics "Fortress Europe" (the para-military hunting
for refugees), police-, military- and secret services cooperations and
militarization in general (Germany is now the worlds third largest
weapons' exporting country *sad*).

But back to topic. Assange is right on this point: the "utopia" of total
transparency, i.e. of "everybody could theoretically know everything
about anyone", which has also been called "Transparent Society" by David
Brin, is in reality a dystopia.

Why? The answer is simple. While in theory total transparency would mean
equality, in practice there will always be a gap between people with
more and those with less access to information, may it be due to
financial resources, technological ressources or the lack of literacy or
education.

So, in practice there would always be an avantgarde or "elite", which
has advantages over others. And this would be the corporations at first.

Additionally, acces providers and gatekeepers for informational
management (like Google) will have advanced powers in supervising and
maybe controling behaviour of users.

But people, who feels supervised or lack of orientation in an
information overload, will not be able to develeop an independant point
of view. They will not be able to participate at democracy - and no,
simple theoretical access to all available information is not enough. It
needs training and education to filter information and rate them personally.

Plus, the development of a strong, self-aware personality needs a sphere
of privacy. You would never allow a livestream from your kids' room go
live 24/7 on the web, won't you? People need secure spaces to grow up,
to explore and "develop" themselves.

And that's maybe the main reason for opposing the technological "utopia"
(or "dystopia") of a completely transparent society.

So, I feel that the NCUC should be a voice for strong privacy for
consumers against the corporations - and yes, even if their supposed
motto is "Don't be evil".

By the way, I also believe, that corporations should not been granted
the same civil rights as people. Corporations shouldn't have a right for
privacy - individuals should.

Hm, have gotten a bit out of scope here, sorry for that.

Viele Grüße/Best regards,
Ricardo Cristof Remmert-Fontes
- Aktion Freiheit statt Angst e.V. -

Mobile: +49-170-2487266
E-Mail: rcrf at aktion-fsa.de



-------- Original Message  --------
Subject: Re: Assange message
From: InternationalParents <info at FRENCHPARENTS.NET>
To: NCSG-NCUC-DISCUSS at LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
Date: Wed Mar 16 2011 19:44:16 GMT+0100 (CET)

> Thank you Julian for putting my thoughts in writing and Dee Dee for
> sending this! ;-)
> 
> My approach to social networking is one of preserving as much privacy as
> possible for members,
> 
> without the disadvantages of anonymity;
> 
> ie,
> 
> - no addresses,
> - no last names,
> - just real people who are invited to join by other real people.
> 
> 
> I like our Listserv discussion list for much the same reasons:
> 
> it's managed by a trusted entity with relative independence from
> 
> corporate or government interests.
> 
> 
> Caroline Isautier
> 
> 
>>
> 
> 
> -----------------------------------
> Frenchparents.net - ( Not active any more)
> Bilingual online community in San Francisco
> http://www.frenchparents.net
> 
> InternationalParents - (Its little brother, growing taller by the day)
> Social network in 30 cities worldwide
> Le premier réseau international des familles futées
> The first international network for smart parents
> http://www.internationalparents.net/
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 





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