People won’t use the new technology unless they feel that their privacy is protected. Technical means, such as recently developed encryption techniques, must be made available to all users. And clear legal guidelines for individual control over access to and reuse of personal information must be established. Companies that sell entertainment services will have a record of what their customers’ interests are; these records must remain confidential.
Predictor: Kapor, Mitchell
Prediction, in context:In a 1991 article about the blossoming of the Internet he wrote for Scientific American magazine, Electronic Frontier Foundation co-founder Mitchell Kapor and Jerry Berman state: ”People won’t use the new technology unless they feel that their privacy is protected. Technical means, such as recently developed encryption techniques, must be made available to all users. And clear legal guidelines for individual control over access to and reuse of personal information must be established. Companies that sell entertainment services will have a record of what their customers’ interests are; these records must remain confidential.”
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: November 1, 1993
Topic of prediction: Controversial Issues
Subtopic: Privacy/Surveillance
Name of publication: New York Times
Title, headline, chapter name: A Superhighway Through the Wasteland?
Quote Type: Direct quote
Page number or URL of document at time of study:
http://www.eff.org/Publications/Mitch_Kapor/nii_kapor_berman_eff_nyt.article
This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Anderson, Janna Quitney