Anti-Spyware Coalition Public Workshop
posted by:Jeremy Hessing-Lewis // 10:41 AM // May 16, 2006 // Commentary &/or random thoughts | Digital Activism and Advocacy | Digital Democracy: law, policy and politics | Surveillance and social sorting | Walking On the Identity Trail
Jeremy HL and Ambrese reporting from the Anti-Spyware Coalition Public Workshop: Developing International Solutions for Global Spyware Problems. The Workshop has brought together an interesting mix of consumer advocates, anti-spyware vendors, regulatory agencies, and public interest groups.
Ari Schwartz, of the Center for Democracy and Technology, presented a survey of some of the harms of spyware including:
1. Identity Theft
2. Corporate Espionage
3. Domestic Violence
4. Extortion
5. Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices
6. General Privacy Invasions
Although the connection may not be immediately obvious, the relationship between domestic violence and spyware is particularly interesting. Both Anne Mau, of lokk.dk, as well as Cindy Southworth, of the National Network to End Domestic Violence, spoke of how women in abusive relationships can be put under surveillance by their own computers. The monitoring becomes an additional method of asserting complete control. One example marketed as "lovespy" was deployed as a harmless greeting card that would then install key tracking software. This is especially dangerous when women are trying to find social support information or are organizing themselves to leave the relationship.
Ambrese investigated the support services related to spyware and domestic violence only to find that they remain totally inadequate. One support worker offered the helpful advice: "Don't use the Internet." CIPPIC will be hosting Cindy Southwark this week as she trains social service workers to deal with these issues.
Stay Tuned.
