The Impact of Technology on the Individual
Group Research
In the following groups you are to research your designated technological change using the internet.
1. Any relevant legislation related to the technology
2. 3 positive impacts of this technology on individuals or society as a whole
3. 3 negative impacts of this technology on individuals or society as a whole
4. 1 example of the use of this technology in the media
Group 1 (Alex and Haman)
- Surveillance technology
Group 2 (Eric, Theju and Mia)
- Prevalence of recording technology
Group 3 (Julie and Jessica)
- Medical advances using gene technology
Group 4 (Emily and Tori)
- The internet and identity theft
Group 5 (Nicole and Sam)
- GMO technology in food production
Group 6 (Kylie and Laura)
- File sharing and piracy
Surveillance technology (by Alex and Haman)
· A legislation related to surveillance technology is the Workplace Surveillance Act 2005. This act was introduced for several reasons including: to prohibit the surveillance of employees at work unless they have been given notice of surveillance and to restrict and regulate the blocking by employers of emails and internet access of employees at work, to regulate the use of covert surveillance by Magistrates and to restrict the use of covert surveillance records.
· Positive impacts of surveillance include the way police can easier solve crimes with surveillance records of the time of the crime. Another advantage is the use of metal detectors which has surveillance on what employees bring into the workplace or schools. This reduces risk of weapon crimes such as guns and knives. Another advantage would be surveillance of the internet so that children or other people do not look at inappropriate material.
· Negative impacts of surveillance are that surveillance is looked at as a breach of privacy. Also, surveillance can only be used in limited areas, so crime rates and public abusive behaviour isn’t overall stopped. Another disadvantage is that criminals may use this technology and surveillance such as Google Earth or other types of surveillance and use them to plan criminal acts.
· One example of surveillance use in the media is where police have been allowed to install listening devices, hidden cameras, tracking devices and devices to monitor emails. This shows the advantages of surveillance as it helps police keep track of criminal suspects and reduce risks of acts.
THE PREVALENCE OF RECORDING TECHNOLOGY
Eric: legislation
UK
The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (c.23)
Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, regulating the powers of public bodies to carry out surveillance and investigation, and covering the interception of communications. It was introduced to take account of technological change such as the growth of the Internet and strong encryption.
RIPA can be invoked by government officials specified in the Act on the grounds of national security, and for the purposes of detecting crime, preventing disorder, public safety, protecting public health, or in the interests of the economic well-being of the United Kingdom.
The Regulation of Investigatory Powers (RIP) Bill was introduced in the House of Commons on 9 February 2000 and completed its Parliamentary passage on 26 July.
Data Protection Act 1998
The Data Protection Act 1998 is a United Kingdom Act of Parliament which defines UK law on the processing of data on identifiable living people. It is the main piece of legislation that governs the protection of personal data in the UK. The Act protect people's fundamental rights and freedoms and in particular their right to privacy with respect to the processing of personal data. In practice it provides a way for individuals to control information about themselves. Most of the Act does not apply to domestic use. It also requires companies and individuals to keep personal information to themselves.
Aus
TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT 1997 (Commonwealth)
The Telecommunications Act 1997 (Cth) contains a number of provisions dealing with the privacy of personal information held by carriers, carriage service providers and others.
- Part 6 provides for the development of industry codes and standards in a range of consumer protection and privacy areas. The Privacy Commissioner must be consulted on any privacy codes. The codes are voluntary in the first instance, but breaches can be enforceable by the Australian Communications and Media Authority.
- Part 13 sets out strict rules for carriers, carriage service providers and others in their use and disclosure of personal information.
Mia: Positive and Negative Impacts
3 Positive impacts of this technology on individuals or society as a whole
· Video encoders can be configured and be accessed remotely or in a control room.
· A huge advantage for companies such as banks, the mint, etc. CCTV are able to protect and watch over everything in action. It can also increase harmony in the society. If a company is to use CCTV, it is required by the law that they must put a notice saying that there is video surveillance in this area. In this way people will think twice about committing an offence.
· If the CCTV caught a crime happening, the video itself can be support the evidence to justice. Investigation and crime detection will be done with videos.
· There is another technology called Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR). It is a tracking surveillance camera and optical character recognition software. It locates a vehicle’s number plate, the image of the vehicle and information of the car (car registration and insurance.
3 Negative impacts of this technology on individuals or society as a whole
· CCTV or any other recording technology can be hacked and edited by anyone if it wasn’t protected. Anybody who are skilled enough can change the setting, the audio in the video.
· CCTV does invade privacy. Most people argue that video recording cameras are not useful. It scares people that they are being watched over by someone every second. Also, with the usage of facial recognition technology. This technology is a camera where it identifies individuals by their appearance.
· GPS. It is very useful yet very dangerous. Anyone can track where you are going.
http://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/sinodisp/au/other/lawreform/VLRC/2010/18.html?stem=0&synonyms=0&query=VLRC%202010%2018%20or%202010%20VLRC%2018
Theju: Media
Recording technology is widespread and media evidently depends on it. News Clips, footage and photographs accompanied with audio all depend on recording technology. The media is so successful for this reason. However, recording technology can be used incorrectly; as recently displayed by the phone tapping scandal in Britain.
The phone hacking scandal in Britain consisted of accusations against News of the World a 168yr old company for tapping phones and illegally hacking voicemails to receive confidential information. A prime example was released in ‘The Guardian’ on 4th of July 2011. According to this paper journalists hacked into the Dowler family’s voicemails to receive confidential information regarding the disappearance and murder of Milly Dowler, a school girl. Furthermore the allegedly deleted messages and therefore tampering with evidence, and possibly destroying valuable evidence about her abduction. Editor of News of the World Rebekah Brooks and Chief Executive of News Corp stated that they had no knowledge of this incident. Many more incidents were reported, from royals such as Prince William and sport sensations such as David Beckham. On July the 10th the 168 yr. old newspaper was closed down. (News, Channel 7, 9 and 10).
This scandal is an example of the effects of recording technology. This is a negative effect but it must be acknowledged that this recording technology could have been used to capture culprits and send criminals into prison.
Medical advances using gene technology- Cloning
Jessica and Julie
Legislation related to cloning in Australia
-Gene Technology Act 2000 (Cth)
-These legislation includes the prohibition on the cloning of a whole human being. This prohibition is however provisional legislation ( a substitution ) until the states and territories adopt a nationally consistent legislation.
-Prohibition of Human Cloning for Reproduction Act 2002
-research involving Human Embryos Act 2002
-these two Acts prevented cloning for reproductive purposes and also on somatic cell nuclear transfer
-National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Reasearch2007
-After amendments to the 2002 Acts, researchers using human embryo stem cells must comply with relevant guidelines according to this Act
3 POSITIVE IMPACTS OF CLONING ON INDIVIDUALS OR SOCIETY AS A WHOLE
-cloning will allow us to produce the copies of farm animals and racehorses that have the best characteristics in the herd
-it allows doctors to make human replacement body parts for transplants that will not be rejected
-It could treat incurable diseases such as heart attack by cloning healthy heart cells and injecting them into the damaged heart area.
3 NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF CLONING ON INDIVIDUALS OR SOCIETY AS A WHOLE
-cloning is unnatural and goes against the law of nature.
-cloned animals (which are all identical) will all have the same resistance top diseases. Therefore there will be a sudden wipe-out of farm animals if a disease develops.
-Eventually, it may lead to human cloning. This undoubtedly brings ethical controversy as it unnatural and will have great impact on society and individuals.
THE MEDIA
You're looking swell, Dolly, but no human copies, please
August 21, 2010 SMH
The creator of the world's first cloned sheep says it would be utterly irresponsible to create a person, writes Roger Highfield.
“ The final possibility is the most frightening: ''reproductive cloning'' to create humans. While there are ethical and psychological objections, the main problem is safety. Cloning is linked to a higher death rate for foetuses and problems during birth.
To repeat the Dolly experience in humans would mean obtaining 300 eggs and persuading 29 women to have a cloned embryo implanted. Of those, the odds are 28 would fail, with only one embryo ''taking''.”
This article outlines how the success of cloning Dolly the Sheep have aroused fear of possibly cloning human. It also briefly outlines the process of cloning Dolly.
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/technology/sci-tech/youre-looking-swell-dolly-but-no-human-copies-please-20100823-13cgl.html#ixzz1Sn16tCzD
The Internet and Identity Fraud – Tori and Emily
Identity theft refers to the theft and use of personal information of an actual person as opposed to the use of a fictional identity. This can include the theft and use of identifying personal information of someone who is dead or alive. Identity theft happens in multiple ways. It can range from someone using credit cards illegally to make purchases over the internet or telephone.
Currently, identity theft is not a federal offence in Australia, although there is numerous state and territory offences that can be used to prosecute offenders who use illegally gained identity information to commit criminal offences.
In South Australia, however, identity theft is a criminal offence. Criminal Law Consolidation Act 1935 (SA) makes it an offence to assume the identity of another person (whether living or dead, real or fictional) with the intent to commit, or facilitate the commission of a 'serious criminal offence'. An amendment to this Act in 2004 makes it an offence to use the 'personal identifying information' of a living or deceased person. In March 2007, Queensland introduced a similar amendment to their Act.
3 positive impacts:
Easily access a vast array of information about products, companies and even government agencies allowing them to make informed decisions.
International boundaries are meaningless when it comes to the internet.
The internet provides some of the most effective means of communication.
3 Negative impacts:
Not reliable/false information.
The internet is unregulated and this has created new opportunities for criminals and those who seek to do wrong.
The Internet corrupts people’s minds, influences and changes people’s moral perspectives and ethical values.
Media:
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/10/16/1065917520126.html
First Identity theft laws proposed in South Australia. The Age, October 16, 2003.
http://www.zdnet.com.au/australia-needs-id-theft-laws-minister-339287744.htm
Australia needs ID-theft laws: Minister. ZDNet.com.au, March 28, 2008.
Nicole and Sam
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) Technology on Food Production
Nicole and Sam
1. LEGISLATION:
Gene Technology ACT 2000 (CWTH)
Under section 55: People are not to deal with GMO without a licence; these include conducting experiments, make, develop, produce or manufacture GMO, breed, propagate, grow, raise or culture GMO, Import, and transport and dispose GMO.
A licence holder must breach the conditions of his GMO licence.
A person must not breach conditions in GMO regulations
Under section 76: There is to be a Register known as the GMO Register. The GMO Register is to be maintained by the Regulator. The GMO Register may be kept in a computerised form.
Genetically Modified Crops Management Act 2004 (CWTH)
Genetically Modified Crops Management Regulations 2008 (SA)
2. THREE POSITIVE IMPACTS OF GMO:
Ensures adequate food supply for the population
Reduces production costs and reduces time
Cheaper food for consumers
3. THREE NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF GMO:
Food allergies increase dramatically
Negative reproductive effects: becomes sterile within weeks of consumption
Harms other organisms
4. MEDIA REPORT:
SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. JEAN LOUIS SANTINI. 2010
US DEBATE CONTINUES ON SALMON ‘FRANKENFOOD’
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/us-debate-continues-on-salmon-frankenfood-20100922-15mj4.html
US experts are decided whether or not Genetically Modified Salmon should become the first so-called ‘Frankenfood’ animal to be served in American homes. Under current laws, GMO salmon would not have to be labelled as transgenic food as it would be exactly the same as the other salmon. The Massachusetts-based AquaBounty argues that its fish, injected with genes can reach an adult size in 16-18 months instead of 30 months for normal salmon and that in all other respects, it is identical to other Atlantic salmon.
FILE SHARING AND PIRACY (Kylie and Laura)
Relevant legislation to the technology of file sharing and piracy:
Copyright laws have been put in place to protect the products that others have created. Copyright laws ensure that when a person creates a product there are laws set in place to ensure that the product cannot copy it without the original producer’s permission.
File sharing and downloading of products poses serious problems for copyright laws as the file sharing and piracy of these has resulted in denial of profit for example the artist’s, record companies, and distributors their copyright sales.
Three positive impacts on the technology of file sharing and piracy;
1-People can share digital files, their friends and families can access open systems- blogs to be constantly informed of their travels and adventures, stay in touch around the world etc.