I personally feel that the crusade for freedom and privacy in the digital age needs much better theories of the actual threats to freedom and privacy. Images like “Big Brother Is Watching You” really are not adequate, and better images of both the problems and the potential solutions will be a crucial part of the increasingly global campaign for democracy.
Predictor: Agre, Phil
Prediction, in context:The February 1994 issue of The Network Observer, an online newsletter, carries lead-in titled “Welcome to TNO” by Phil Agre, TNO editor, who was, at the time, working in the Department of Information Studies, University of California, Los Angeles. Agre writes:”I personally feel that the crusade for freedom and privacy in the digital age needs much better theories of the actual threats to freedom and privacy. Images like ÔBig Brother Is Watching YouÕ really are not adequate, and better images of both the problems and the potential solutions will be a crucial part of the increasingly global campaign for democracy.”
Biography:Phillip E. Agre was an associate professor of information studies at the University of California, Los Angeles, and has been the author of research studies on the Internet. He edited The Network Observer, an online newsletter on Internet issues. (Research Scientist/Illuminator.)
Date of prediction: January 1, 1994
Topic of prediction: Controversial Issues
Subtopic: General
Name of publication: The Network Observer
Title, headline, chapter name: Welcome to TNO
Quote Type: Direct quote
Page number or URL of document at time of study:
http://dlis.gseis.ucla.edu/people/pagre/tno/february-1994.html
This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Guarino, Jennifer Anne