FALL 2007 HONORS COURSES

HONR 239R Privacy vs. In-Your-Face Big Government
Tuesday/Thursday, 12:30 - 1:45 p.m.
Dr. James Purtilo, Department of Computer Science

Information is a weapon. It is a mechanism of control. If you know the right information about another person, you know how to control him; if you keep your own information secure then you maintain a better sense of control in your own life. Citizens who seek to preserve an individual's sense of self-determination in a free democratic society support privacy protections as a strong check on expanding government, that might otherwise grow to infringe on citizens' ability to oversee the institution created in their name.

The interests of individual privacy versus government control have always competed but the dynamic balance between them became more dynamic in recent years with the advent of computers. New technology enables government interests in citizen control at the same time it introduces alternate means for citizens to defend privacy.

This course is intended to tour the competing technologies and specifically evaluate their interplay with both enumerated and natural rights. We will study the role of computer in this balancing act and try to understand the mechanisms underlying the privacy dynamic. Topics are likely to include:
Rights: what are we talking about protecting in the first place, what is the basis for an individual's preservation of rights, what are the interests of government?
Database basics: data mining, profiling.
Tracking: GPS, inventory pins, cameras in surprising places, On-star, black boxes.
Security: fundamentals of encryption, PGP, anonymity, email/storage issues, legislation and restrictions.
Law enforcement: privacy protection to do crime, counterterrorism goals, Patriot Act
Commerce: web and network issues, cookies, E-gold.
Biometrics: face scanning, verichip.
Cracking government secrets: PIA, FOIA.

A class project will be to compile a taxonomy of specific sorts of data that the state (as a case study) routinely maintains on its citizens. The course requires a term paper evaluating a relevant technology in depth, illustrating its application and potential for abuse. Grading will be based on these work-products as well as on a small number of exams and quizzes. It is our hope to have regular guest presentations from domain experts. A small number of field trips (e.g. to National Cryptologic Museum at Ft. Meade) are not out of the question.

A reading packet will be prepared by the professor.

CORE: Interdisciplinary and Emerging Issues [IE]