Demographically precise user profiles can be compiled by providers. These can be sold to vendors for marketing purposes. They also could be supplied to employers, creditors and the government for any number of purposes.
Predictor: Rheingold, Howard
Prediction, in context:In a 1993 article for The Seattle Times, Paul Andrews interviews Howard Rheingold. Andrews writes: ”Rheingold and other watchdogs, including the Electronic Frontier Foundation formed by Lotus 1-2-3 founder Mitchell Kapor and Grateful Dead lyricist John Barlow, have raised three red flags over the future of digital communications. [The second is:] Privacy. From usage habits – whether its program references, online shopping, game-playing or credit information – demographically precise user profiles can be compiled by providers. These can be sold to vendors for marketing purposes. They also could be supplied to employers, creditors and the government for any number of purposes. A relatively recent technology called public-key encryption could protect online users by making both sender and receiver of information essentially anonymous except to each other. It has support in numerous quarters, including private industry, but is opposed by national-security agencies who warn it could be used for illegal ends.”
Biography:Howard Rheingold, one of the first writers to illuminate the ideals and foibles of virtual communities, published a webzine called Electric Minds and wrote “Virtual Reality,” “Smart Mobs” and “Virtual Community.” He also was the editor of Whole Earth Review and the Millennium Whole Earth Catalog. (Research Scientist/Illuminator.)
Date of prediction: January 1, 1993
Topic of prediction: Controversial Issues
Subtopic: Privacy/Surveillance
Name of publication: Seattle Times
Title, headline, chapter name: Author Backs Freedom of Online Expression – Concerns Raised on Control of Data Highway
Quote Type: Partial quote
Page number or URL of document at time of study:
http://web.lexis-nexis.com/universe/document?_m=44d5a7ddba65f99f5b12dab299fb936d&_docnum=21&wchp=dGLbVlz-lSlAl&_md5=22ed5afb78656cdf870dc3358b1a4164
This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Anderson, Janna Quitney