Week 9: Ch 24
I think this is the best chapter yet. I enjoyed reading about hacker organizations that I never knew existed. One of the most significant quotes that I would liked to elaborate on stated: “the centrality of free flow information, both to and from everyone is clear and so is the concern about the number of nations states are limiting their citizens’ access to internet”. This specific part illustrates the notion of censorship. It made me wonder whether or not censorship is an asset or a problem, especially now that information is widely available and accessible to everyone? I believe that both statements are equally true. Having the opportunity to live in Canada where there is no censorship, It makes me want to join the ideology of hacktivists, because I had the opportunity to do what i want,  when i want it,  and however i want it. I appreciate this sense of freedom more than someone who was maybe born here. Because i was born in a place that restricted my access to information and other important valuable things, i know that i would never give up the freedom ever again. But, since I lived in a place where censorship was limiting to everyday life such as websites that are officially not accessible, I also know the value of censorship. Politically speaking the virtual world in other countries sort of represent the same political restriction and censorship that exist in the physical world. Despite the fact that i am an advocate for freedom, i have also seen what freedom can do when given to the wrong people. I can’t ignore the power of the virtual world. And it’s because of the power that it makes me doubt a little bit if all censorship everywhere should be abolished. Imagine giving valuable important information to a terrorist? I wouldn’t want them to use that freedom against me and create wars. Therefore, i think we should be a little critical about the receiving end of free info for everyone, because sometimes that someone is not able to appreciate that freedom, so they use it against the people that allowed it in the first place. I also loved in class the debate that happened about whether or not all information should be accessible. What if your credit card info was online? Despite the fact that I also appreciate my privacy, I feel as though, in order for organizations like anonymous to prove their point of view and for people to take them seriously, it might be necessary to reveal that info. Whatever info is released proves that the current system and status-quo is broken. Don’t hate the player hate the game. Organizations like anonymous take it upon themselves to reveal the utter ridiculousness of the world. I realize that some of my opinions might be controversial, so let me summarize: Hackers are amazing, and i would love to be one of them if i knew anything about computers. But hackers should be careful whenever they want to start a political revolution, because sometimes they might be giving the wrong people the right information.Â