Global Media News

Global Media News Webcast 4: September 27, 2012

 Freedom of Expression: Censorship, Privacy & Surveillance

Global Media News for September 27, 2012

Global Media News is a weekly webcast covering media & technology news from around the world.  This webcast is a production of  Media Studies students from the SUNY College @ Old Westbury.

This week on the 'Digital Revolution' edition of  Global Media News:

"Freedom of Expression: Surveillance & Civil Liberties"

•  Music, Censorship & Free Expression
• Comment!  The Politics of Online Comments
• Cellphones, Surveillance & Civil Liberties
• Trapwire:  The Latest in Surveillance
• RFID Tracking

See you next week for more news from the Digital Revolution!

Next Week on Global Media News:

Digital Politics

Listen to our webcast streaming live next Thursday @ 11am EST.

Can't listen live? Our next webcast will be posted by 2:00pm, Thursday, October 4, 2012.

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Are You Being Watched??

 

     It's believed by many people that in order to keep their homes or workplaces secure, some kind of security device is needed.  However, in the technologically advanced world of today, many people are finding ways to hack into these security devices, specifically cameras, and spy on people in the privacy of their homes and workplaces.  So I pose this question: Who's Watching You??

    A blog called Console Cowboys brought to the attention of many that some models of a home security camera made by the company Trendnet can be hacked into.  The blog even went as far as to post instructions on how to access these devices.  All one has to do is get a code from the firmware of Trendnet, attach it to the IP address of any camera of that company and VIOLA!!!  You're watching your neighbor paint their toes tickle me pink. 

      Katie Notopoulos of The Verge received an email from Zak Wood, the director of Global Marketing for Trendnet, issuing this statement:

"We became aware of it when it was reported on a public forum, very recently. This is a major concern and we dedicated significant resources to fix this issue immediately."

     He also advises that Trendnet customers update their firmware over a secure, wired internet connection.

    Hacking into security cameras is starting to become a dangerous trend.  In the UK 1.85 million security cameras were put up to decrease the crime rate.  Andrea Petrou of TechEYE.net reports that a security expert, who is going unnamed, warns this new technology will become a new target.  He states that "although this isn't a new risk, we've seen this increase over the past few years as this technology becomes more of a tool to provide evidence and put people away."  Hackers will try to break the encryption of the cameras and get in to rid of any evidence if a crime were to occur.

    Knowing that an average person can do this, makes me wonder about the capabilities of an expert hacker.  They will eventually get tired of watching people on security cameras and want to take it to the next level. Possibly hacking into people's personal information or worse the government's.

Is Google Googling you?

Google has come under increased scrutiny when they were rumored to have violated people's personal rights and viewed people's personal information, such as emails or passwords, with0ut the individuals consent.  The Federal  Communications Commission(FCC) has stated that although Google has not violated any major laws it was indeed partly responsible and was fined $25,000 as a result.

The scandal is centered around an engineer, which has been labeled as anoymous name of "Engineer Doe", who worled for Google andtold Google officials that they can collect payload data from individuals which then can track the individuals wi-fi networks and location. Payload data is the data sent over the internet which contains vital information on location, wi-fi and other important info and Google was accused for using this to steal individuals personal information. In a report with the Washington Post the FCC has stated that Google has used street viewing cars for this, "On at least two occasions Engineer Doe specifically informed colleagues that Street View Cars were collecting data."

According to BBC News the information gained from the reports were going to be used for other Google projects, the FCC has stated, "Engineer Doe intended to collect, store and review payload data for possible use in other Google projects." This news is alarming news as internet safety is yet again another major topic. Google is a major giant in the media asit has alot of power and can get away with scandals such as these. What's even more of a concern is that Google is affiliated with many different forms of technology and media such as E-Mails or G-mail, you-tube, maps, search engines, advertising, etc, and will use this to collect more data on individuals. Google will probably use this info that people store on other sites which they are affiliated with to promote their products, spread their information, control internet content and what not.

Scandal in the Chinese Communist Party

As of late Bo Xilai has come under alot of scrutiny. Bo Xilai is a former Chinese politician who held many top seats in the Chinese government but was removed from his position amongst heavy allegations. The allegations all started when Bo Xilai's wife was accused of murdering English businessman Neil Haywood in November 2011. The problem arose when Chongqing police chief Wang Lijun went to the US consulate with documents about their crime and other scandalous info and threatened to turn them in. Wang was then detained and sent to local authorities by Xilai's police force where he was interrogated and investigated.

This led to public outcry and eventually Bo Xilai was stripped from his position and now faces serious out-lashes from the government and public. The Chinese Communist Party has now begun a propaganda campaign to dehumanize him signifying the impact of this case for not only Xilai but the whole Chinese government itself. The situation is truly an ironic one as Xilai used to manipulate the media himself for personal gains now gets a taste of how dangerous the media in a controlled state can be. The country has asked for many of the news and media agencies in the country to show support for the state and to attack Xilai in an attempt to "unify" the country but this has been a difficult task as the country is divided on the issue. Many people in the country such as the pro-communist supporters are in favor of Xilai and have supported him extensively while many liberal or progressive figures in the country are opposed to Xilai and viewed him as a criminal. David Bandurski an editor for the Chinese Media Project in Hong Kong described the situation,

“We haven’t seen this kind of direct meddling with the media across the board in a long, long time...You can really sense the anxiety and the uneasiness.  They’re pushing so intently this message of unity and solidarity, and you know all is not well.”

The case is having an enormous impact on media in China and even some abroad.  According to BBC news a Chinese based website located in North Carolina has been hacked and shut down due to their extensive coverage on the story. The manager of the site has stated that Chinese security forces has shut down the website in an attempt to stop the coverage of the news spreading internationally. This alone signifies how interesting the case really is as China doesn't want any bad press overseas that can potentially be harmful for their government. 

Media in China is an extremely sensitive and private issue due to media in the country being state run and monitored. Certain media networks that are popular internationally, such as Google and Facebook, are banned in China due to fears of their "western" influence. However, many in the country turn a blind eye to the censorship due to the strong economic growth the country has been achieving over the past decade which has helped modernize the country and reduce poverty.

Here's the Wall Street Journal with some interesting coverage on the case

 

At War: Terrorism, Security & Surveillance

The Digital Revolution in Surveillance

Oops!  This week's webcast starts abruptly because of technical difficulties. The beginning of the show was lost. We begin in the middle of a discussion about surveillance in schools and how the police are using Facebook. Here are this week's topics:

• Using Facebook for Surveillance
• Surveillance in the Schools
• Drones and Video Surveillance in the War on Terror
• The Debate over Government Surveillance and Personal Privacy

Next Week:  "Fantasy Play:  Internet Gaming & Gambling  "  

Listen to our webcast streaming live every Thursday @ 11am EST.

Can't listen live?   Our  next webcast will be posted by 2:00pm, Thursday, December 8.

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Surveillance to Sousveillance: Who's Watching

 

CHECK OUT OUR SHOW ON WHO'S WATCHING YOU

This week we discuss Surveillance to Sousveillance: Who's Watching?

After 9/11 the Bush administration authorized secret surveillance of the American citizens. The aim of the program was to rapidly monitor the phone calls and other communications of people in the United States believed to have contact with suspected associates of al Qaeda and other terrorist groups overseas. While some are saying its an absolute necessity others are calling it an invasion of individual privacy. You be the judge.

• Surveillance to Sousveillance
• Sousveillance and its effect on society
• U.S. government surveillance of U.S. citizens
• Threats to your privacy
• Ways to protect your privacy online 

Net Control: Internet Censorship Around the World

 

Click to Listen! "Net Control" on Global Media News

Learn about "Net Control" on this week's Global Media News: Digital Edition   

Governments around the world are trying to control access to the Internet.    From surveillance to censorship the freedoms of the web are under attack. Nation-states seek to limit and control the effects of the digital revolution on the politics and culture of their societies.  What will become of the free exchange of information on the web? 

• Introduction to Net Control
• Internet Censorship in China
• Google Vs. China
• Australia's Net Policy
• Net Control in South Asia and Pakistan
• A Summary of Recent Attempts to Control the Net from around the Globe