Biologists are trying to balance need for scientific openness with concerns that their research might aid bioterrorists. The outcome of this debate will also shape the way the United States and the world manage such high-impact endeavors as human clinical trials, genetic engineering, and cloning, each of which carries potential benefits and risks.
A group at MIT has launched a new site, "Government Information Awareness", devoted to "reverse" surveillance of government agencies and the people involved.
The author, a computer game designer, argues that the computer-networked, digital world "poses enormous threats to humanity that no government, no matter how totalitarian, can stop." He concludes that a "fully open society is our best chance for survival."
Government officials and communications experts are assessing the public safety and security implications of a newly posted online article that provides directions for making cheap devices that can jam Global Positioning System (GPS) signals.
Dr. Claire Fraser against calls for the classification of the genome data of harmful organisms because the data may be useful to terrorists. She advocates keeping "our databases open - to promote research that can increase our level of preparedness and as a corollary, perhaps serve as a deterrent."
Researchers warn that restricting the spread of biotechnology research to prevent biological terrorism would do more harm than good.
A summary of the findings from a recent conference that discussed possible approaches to minimize the risk that "sensitive" research findings could be misused for biological warfare (BW) or terrorism.
Facing no prospect that Biological Weapons Convention states will approve an inspections mechanism for verifying compliance any time soon, a group of organizations here today announced the launch of a nongovernmental network for gathering information and reporting on biotechnological activities worldwide.
Western hackers are developing peer-to-peer programs to defeat the Internet censorship barriers of repressive countries overseas such as Iran or China. These programs will allow Western users to act as an anonymous channel for individuals in repressive countries, raising interesting questions about the involvement of web volunteers in active information warfare against foreign governments.
Inscenced by the growing use of surveillance cameras, privacy advocates are fighting back to jam the cameras with cheap lasers or guerilla theatre.