The prediction, in brief:

Those parts of a system where damage would do the greatest harm – financial records, electronic mail, military data – should be protected. This involves installing more effective computer security measures, but it also means redefining the legal interpretations of copyright, intellectual property, computer crime and privacy so that system users are protected against individual criminals and abuses by large institutions. These policies should balance the need for civil liberties against the need for a secure, orderly, protected electronic society.

Predictor: Kapor, Mitchell

Prediction, in context:

In a 1991 article for Scientific American, Electronic Frontier Foundation co-founder Mitchell Kapor states:”We hope to see a similar emerging consensus on security issues. Network systems should be designed not only to provide technical solutions to security problems but also to allow system operators to use them without infringing unduly on the rights of users. A security system that depends on wholesale monitoring of traffic, for example, would create more problems than it would solve. Those parts of a system where damage would do the greatest harm – financial records, electronic mail, military data – should be protected. This involves installing more effective computer security measures, but it also means redefining the legal interpretations of copyright, intellectual property, computer crime and privacy so that system users are protected against individual criminals and abuses by large institutions. These policies should balance the need for civil liberties against the need for a secure, orderly, protected electronic society.”

Biography:

Mitchell Kapor founded the Lotus Development Corporation and also founded the Electronic Frontier Foundation with WELL (Whole Earth ‘Lectronic Link) members John Perry Barlow and John Gilmore in 1990 in direct response to a threat to free speech. He was an outspoken supporter of open access to the Internet, and was asked to speak in many venues about the issue, including Congressional hearings. (Pioneer/Originator.)

Date of prediction: January 1, 1991

Topic of prediction: Communication

Subtopic: Security/Encryption

Name of publication: Scientific American

Title, headline, chapter name: When Does Hacking Turn From An Exercise of Civil Liberties Into Crime?

Quote Type: Direct quote

Page number or URL of document at time of study:
http://www.eff.org/Publications/Mitch_Kapor/cyberliberties_kapor.article

This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Anderson, Janna Quitney