July 2009

Google's Big Plan for Books

[Commentary] While the Internet has transformed much of the information world, books have been a laggard. Google may change that. It has already scanned millions of out-of-print books, and it has reached an agreement with writers and publishers — which still requires judicial approval — to make them widely available. Google's book service raises monopoly and privacy concerns. It also holds great promise for increasing access to knowledge. As a result of a settlement reached with writers and publishers, Google would be the only company with the right to "orphaned" works, books whose rights owners have not been located. If that were to happen, Google could use monopoly power to price these books exorbitantly. The court reviewing the settlement and the Department of Justice should make sure adequate protections are built in. The proposed settlement also raises privacy concerns. Google could collect data on what books people read and create a dossier of their political views and other information. Google should generally do a better job of showing how it will respect privacy, and this venture is no exception.

Snooping on Web Traffic Gains Favor Amid Fears

An Internet-monitoring technology known as deep packet inspection is gaining favor as a tool to combat viruses and make networks run more efficiently, despite concerns that the technology allows improper snooping on private Web traffic by governments and other prying eyes. The technology created a political firestorm when the administration of former President George W. Bush used it to monitor international communications as part of counterterrorism efforts. Iran's apparent use of deep packet inspection, or DPI, during a crackdown on protesters last month gave the technology another black eye. But use of DPI, which examines Web traffic at a much more detailed level than previous technologies could, is still growing globally.

Cash in Hand, High-Tech Giants Snap Up Rivals

As an avalanche of bankruptcies shutters retail chains, construction firms and restaurants across the nation, high-tech industry heavyweights are seeing opportunity in the stubborn economic downturn. IBM, Intel and Oracle have been on a buying binge in recent weeks and are among the few companies with the resources to make major acquisitions as banks clamp down on borrowing. In a repeat of the dot-com bust of the early 2000s, the tech giants are snapping up competitors at relatively low prices to bulk up and buy into new lines of business so they are better positioned when the economy rebounds.

Bailout in the Mail

[Commentary] The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee has advanced legislation to relax the Postal Service's obligation to prepay its employee retirement benefits, an action that would save it an estimated $2 billion annually. But even this may not be enough to save mail service as we know it. Changing the USPS's costly obligations must also mean reconsidering its lucrative monopoly on mail delivery, which no longer makes sense. The Postal Service's status must be adjusted to fit its changing role in communications. Otherwise, this bailout will not be the last.

Ban cellphoning while driving?

USAToday has dueling commentaries on efforts to ban cell phone use while driving. Perhaps, with time, data might prove that it is in the nation's best interest to enact broader curbs. First, though, it's important to get the facts and weigh the trade-offs.

With wireless devices, telecommuters cut the cord

'Nomads' work anywhere but the office — coffee shops, communal work spaces, even poolside. People with different employers often cluster together for a 'co-worker' environment.

True democracy is not just about taking part

[Commentary] Technology has steadily increased possibilities for the public to participate in the political process. It has not, however, created a corresponding increase in the time the public wants to devote to the political process. If anything, the opposite: by offering so many other ways to spend leisure time and by spreading prosperity, the modern age has reduced the intensity of public commitment to politics. Another concept of democracy invites voters to appoint people they trust to make decisions on their behalf. Two centuries ago, Edmund Burke explained to the electors of Bristol that he would be their representative, not their delegate. He would not seek to mirror or parrot their opinions, but would apply his own best judgment to the issues before him. Even if the technology had been available, we may assume he would not have twittered or consulted focus groups. It is unlikely that the results of introducing these technologies would have caused him to take a different view.

NY Librarian Tapped As Obama Archivist

President Obama's pick to head the National Archives and Records Administration in the increasingly digitized era is David Ferriero, director of the New York Public Libraries -- one of the largest public library systems in the United States and one of the largest research library systems in the world. In his current post, Ferriero is responsible for collection strategy; conservation; digital experience; reference and research services; and education, programming, and exhibitions, according to the White House personnel announcement. The NYPL has 2,600 full-time employees and a budget of $273 million. The National Archives, best known as the keeper of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, recently unveiled a draft update to its strategic plan through 2016 that includes new ideas for electronic records management and language pertaining to the creation of a new National Declassification Center.

White House Still Has a Vacancy for a Lesser Czar

In an East Room speech at the end of May, President Obama declared a new "strategic national asset": the computer networks our country depends on to keep trains running and planes from colliding, to control weapons systems and allow banks to process payments. He also promised to "personally" select a White House cybersecurity coordinator to advise him on all things cyber and to coordinate cyber-policies across the government. Two months later, White House staffers have approached a number of prospects, but still no pick. What's not to like about being Obama's cyber-czar? First, you're not really a czar, reporting as you would to national security adviser Jim Jones and White House economic adviser Larry Summers. Second, "It's a huge, huge turf war. You have Defense fighting the Treasury fighting the intel groups fighting Homeland Security" for control, he said.

New fiber-optic network brings digital era to Afghanistan

New underground wires in Afghanistan carry bits and bytes, not bomb blasts. The fiber-optic cables run to Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, linking Afghanistan by land to the global Internet for the first time. Until last month, most Afghans could only surf the Web through satellite links to other nations. That's expensive, stunting Internet penetration to just 3 percent of the Afghan population. Afghan officials say the country's expanding fiber-optic network will drive down prices for Internet services dramatically, extending access to ordinary Afghans and potentially expanding business and educational opportunities in a country where both are in short supply. Other communication sectors have proven big successes in Afghanistan's fledgling economy, including mobile phones and broadcast media. But the Internet has lagged, partly due to government dithering over international contracts and security challenges, say critics.

Benton

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