Simple Terms for Complex Ideas – Cloud Computing Versus Free Speech, the First Amendment
Cloud computing implies the centralization of hardware, software and data. This allows companies to more easily disseminate new programs and software without incurring too much costs on the end-user (that's us). However, this centralization can cause some problems, and here they are:
Since data is saved on a central computer ' end-user terminals will have little to no hard drives ' the risk of government censorship becomes a legitimate issue. The internet of today is said to be the last bastion of freedom of expression and this may not be the case when cloud computing takes the center stage.
Variations:
- For Data Authors - If I blogged today about a corrupt government official and the government then contacts my blog service provider to delete my blog post (which it will probably do), then I can simply set up another blog in another site because I can have backups in my trusty old pc.
For Data Recipients ' Since all information will be funneled to me through a central database, there is a risk that information, as soon as it gets sent, is already filtered and sanitized beyond recognition ' so that factual and critical but antagonistic information can be omitted, to protect the server company from potential lawsuits, government action, or private corporate retaliation.
Currently, the internet works as mixture of every sort of network, and it is highly unregulated, due to the sheer fact that there are so many ways to get around stuff. For example, while Youtube is blocked China, there are some who use varying methods of data encryption to still gain access to it from the mainland. In essence, freedom of speech can be guaranteed not only through government willingness. More than just that, the current network architecture assures it.
However, with the potential dominance of cloud computing, the job of government regulatory agencies will be much easier because there will be much fewer entities to police, i.e. service providers who operate and maintain the cloud computing facilities. If cloud computing was the system-of-choice today, just imagine what would happen to that video leak that exposed US war crimes in Afghanistan. it is something that everyone should know, but no one will know about it.
With centralization comes efficiency, albeit at price of freedom.
About the Author:
Sammi loves new technology, but to take a break from it she likes working in her garden. She grows many fall vegetable plants and also a large variety of flowers such as chrysanthemums flowers!