1. Compare And Discuss The Reliability Of Internet Versus Traditional Voting Systems.
Americans take special pride in their right to vote. This likely stems from the fact that many different groups had to struggle in different ways to obtain this right. Therefore it is no surprise that the main concern involved in internet voting should be security. Voter fraud deprives people of their vote, and most people are inclined to believe that internet voting would facilitate this process. But after such a dramatic presidential election where bags of uncounted ballots turned up for weeks after, the public faith in the traditional system has been shaken. No longer can it be said that the current system of old voting scanners is entirely accurate. Estimates on by how many votes one candidate defeated another in Florida fluctuate wildly, depending on who answers the question.
According to a report presented to California Secretary of State Bill Jones, internet voting would enable millions of new voters to participate. This report came from the California Internet Voting Task Force, a group of more than a dozen data security experts. Internet voting is defined as the casting of a secure and secret ballot electronically to election officials using the internet. Given the frequency of computer hacking, the public fear of this new technology would appear to be well founded. But if hacking votes (changing or adding them) is the electronic equivalent of tampering at the voting both, it may actually be more difficult to alter an election online. While no connected system will ever be entirely safe, can the same be said of ballots left with election workers? By trying out early models of internet voting, States like Arizona and California have started on a new path of easier access voting. The biggest advantage to online voting is currently access, not security.
2. Briefly Explain The New Digital Signature Law.
The Digital Signature Bill was designed to help regulate and promote interstate electronic commerce. It makes an electronic contract as valid as one signed on a piece of paper. Currently there are no standards by which an electronic signature can be validated. It could be something as simple as a password, although technology is now developing such items as a fingerprint scanner. This law is designed to require consumers to agree to electronically signed contracts (such as the purchase of an item) and to consent to receiving information and records over the internet. However, companies are required to verify the customer has an e-mail address and the technical means to receive information. This bill (Senate Bill 761) will help consolidate the electronic signature laws of all fifty states. Because the internet has changed the way we communicate and buy products, this bill is essential to making online agreements valid under law. Other features of this bill include making illegal the circumvention of anti-piracy measures included in online software. The bill also absolves service providers for copyright infringement committed by those using their service. Providers are expected to remove this material when discovered though. It also forces webcasters (think online radio) to pay royalties to musicians for using their music.
3. Do Citizens Have An Essential Right To Government Information?
Any information not classified for national security reasons should be made available to the people of a nation. Because of current information technology, it is easier for citizens (or foreigners) to obtain any information the government decides to release. Any information released to the people of a nation should therefore be considered the intellectual property of the world. Certain information will never and should never be released because of the sensitive nature of their issues. Unfortunately, gray areas often arise and are hard compromise. When a nation decides to economically or politically topple an elected leader of a foreign country, should the people of the aggressor nation be informed? If not, d
oes this make those citizens similar to the ones in the victim nation, uninformed and clueless? Unless keeping information a secret is pertinent to national security, citizens have a right to access government information
4. According To “The Librarians”, Does The Government Have A Long Term Information Dissemination Policy?
This question is answered clearly at www.ecommerce.gov. The government plainly admits that the information it puts online can disappear as quickly as it appeared. Also, all the needed government information is not available online. If it were, the general public still wouldn’t have the knowledge and tools in their possession to make use of it. The government is trying to establish a policy in which information is readily and permanently made available to the public. This follows on the topic of whether citizens have the right to government information. Recent developments, such as the report released by The U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science, have pointed out the fact that the U.S. Government has no clear policy for giving the public information. When a system is formed that will do this, the public and media will have another set of official figures to work with when analyzing problems from crime to pollution. Until then, “The Librarians” have pointed out a flaw in our government’s fledgling online attempts.
Sources
1. www.securepoll.com
2. http://rechten.kub.nl/simone/ds-lawsu.htm
3. www.ecommerce.gov
