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| aci_2014_presentation_powerpoint_-final.pdf |
Perspective on the Opportunities and Challenges on Civil Society Facing the Digital Revolution
David L. Neely, President and CEO of Affecting Change International
March 25, 2013
The economic impact of the digital revolution has been significant. Without the internet, for example, globalization and outsourcing would not be as significant as they are today. The digital revolution has radically changed the way civil societies interact. On-demand services, cloud computing, and vpn technologies, coupled with continually reducing technology costs, continue to make possible innovations and improvements in all aspects of industry, medicine, education, governance, relief and development programs which have a global impact. These rapidly improving digital technologies have increased the productivity and performance of all stakeholders in the fight against poverty, i.e. quicker access to information, greater collaboration, logistical support and tracking, education, research collaboration, reporting etc. Additional positive aspects of this digital revolution also include greater interconnectedness, easier communication, and the exposure of information that in the past could have more easily been suppressed by governments.
Yet, as with anything, there are always concerns as we face the digital revolution, including information overload, internet predators, social isolation, and media saturation, not to mention privacy issues which has become a significant concern during the digital revolution. The ability to store and utilize such large amounts of diverse information has created openings in the technology for the tracking of individual activities and interests. John Markoff, of the New York Times, in November 2002 wrote, “Privacy rights advocates have long feared the possibility of an Orwellian future where centralized power structures control the populace via automatic surveillance and monitoring of personal information....”
The internet has opened entirely new avenues for communication and information sharing. The ability to quickly and easily share information globally has brought with it unprecedented freedom of speech. The ability to communicate on any topic, to a global audience, at a negligible cost, particularly in comparison to any previous communication technology, has significantly changed how the world gets its news.
Also, this powerful digital revolution has brought with it an even darker side, which impacts the moral fabric of our global society. There is a great deal of objectionable and even dangerous material accessible by anyone with access to the web, no matter the age of the viewer. The proliferation of information on such topics as child pornography, building bombs, committing acts of terrorism and other violent acts on video and broadcasted around the world via the web are quite alarming.
While there have been huge benefits to society from the digital revolution, especially in terms of the accessibility of information, there are a number of additional concerns such as expanded powers of communication and information sharing which have increased the capabilities for existing and emerging technologies to bring with them significant opportunities for exploitation. The digital revolution has ushered in a new age of mass surveillance, generating a range of new civil and human rights issues. Data reliability continues to be issue as information can easily be replicated, but not easily verified. Digital records are easy to create but also easy to delete and modify. Changes in the way data is stored can make recovery of data difficult or nearly impossible, as can the storage of information on obsolete media for which reproduction equipment is unavailable, and even identifying what the data is and whether it is of real use can be nearly impossible if it is no longer easily readable, or if there is a large number of these kind of files to identify.
We are trying to take advantage of the opportunities, while being very aware of the challenges. Affecting Change International (ACI) is in the beginning stages of developing a partnership with Rotary International to make ACI’s ICT Model Village Community Center modular design approach, which we are branding as Life Box Containers, one of Rotary’s international programs. The Life Box Container is a way to convert unused shipping containers into mobile life infrastructure for remote and high density slum communities. We can deliver a complete school and a fully developed medical clinic in one Life Box Container. We have eight modules that can go inside the Life Box. We start with 20 foot containers that are found in country and we work with local partners that are established prior to our arrival. We use our designs and the local partner integrates the necessary equipment. The local construction promotes the local economy. These unibody containers are strong, secure, and can be moved anywhere they are needed. The Life Box includes all necessary equipment to provide the necessary connectivity. The Life Box is owned and supported by the local community, making it a sustainable model for development. In every country ACI has been involved, the digital revolution has made its impact. As ACI looks at the continued and enhanced utilization of digital technologies in the various projects and collaborative efforts we are engaged in globally, it behooves us to consider the various challenges mentioned today. It is critical that all stakeholders be part of the discussion, today and in the future, to make sure civil society, and others involved in development, wisely use digital technologies to positively impact the under served and disenfranchised around the world.
March 25, 2013
The economic impact of the digital revolution has been significant. Without the internet, for example, globalization and outsourcing would not be as significant as they are today. The digital revolution has radically changed the way civil societies interact. On-demand services, cloud computing, and vpn technologies, coupled with continually reducing technology costs, continue to make possible innovations and improvements in all aspects of industry, medicine, education, governance, relief and development programs which have a global impact. These rapidly improving digital technologies have increased the productivity and performance of all stakeholders in the fight against poverty, i.e. quicker access to information, greater collaboration, logistical support and tracking, education, research collaboration, reporting etc. Additional positive aspects of this digital revolution also include greater interconnectedness, easier communication, and the exposure of information that in the past could have more easily been suppressed by governments.
Yet, as with anything, there are always concerns as we face the digital revolution, including information overload, internet predators, social isolation, and media saturation, not to mention privacy issues which has become a significant concern during the digital revolution. The ability to store and utilize such large amounts of diverse information has created openings in the technology for the tracking of individual activities and interests. John Markoff, of the New York Times, in November 2002 wrote, “Privacy rights advocates have long feared the possibility of an Orwellian future where centralized power structures control the populace via automatic surveillance and monitoring of personal information....”
The internet has opened entirely new avenues for communication and information sharing. The ability to quickly and easily share information globally has brought with it unprecedented freedom of speech. The ability to communicate on any topic, to a global audience, at a negligible cost, particularly in comparison to any previous communication technology, has significantly changed how the world gets its news.
Also, this powerful digital revolution has brought with it an even darker side, which impacts the moral fabric of our global society. There is a great deal of objectionable and even dangerous material accessible by anyone with access to the web, no matter the age of the viewer. The proliferation of information on such topics as child pornography, building bombs, committing acts of terrorism and other violent acts on video and broadcasted around the world via the web are quite alarming.
While there have been huge benefits to society from the digital revolution, especially in terms of the accessibility of information, there are a number of additional concerns such as expanded powers of communication and information sharing which have increased the capabilities for existing and emerging technologies to bring with them significant opportunities for exploitation. The digital revolution has ushered in a new age of mass surveillance, generating a range of new civil and human rights issues. Data reliability continues to be issue as information can easily be replicated, but not easily verified. Digital records are easy to create but also easy to delete and modify. Changes in the way data is stored can make recovery of data difficult or nearly impossible, as can the storage of information on obsolete media for which reproduction equipment is unavailable, and even identifying what the data is and whether it is of real use can be nearly impossible if it is no longer easily readable, or if there is a large number of these kind of files to identify.
We are trying to take advantage of the opportunities, while being very aware of the challenges. Affecting Change International (ACI) is in the beginning stages of developing a partnership with Rotary International to make ACI’s ICT Model Village Community Center modular design approach, which we are branding as Life Box Containers, one of Rotary’s international programs. The Life Box Container is a way to convert unused shipping containers into mobile life infrastructure for remote and high density slum communities. We can deliver a complete school and a fully developed medical clinic in one Life Box Container. We have eight modules that can go inside the Life Box. We start with 20 foot containers that are found in country and we work with local partners that are established prior to our arrival. We use our designs and the local partner integrates the necessary equipment. The local construction promotes the local economy. These unibody containers are strong, secure, and can be moved anywhere they are needed. The Life Box includes all necessary equipment to provide the necessary connectivity. The Life Box is owned and supported by the local community, making it a sustainable model for development. In every country ACI has been involved, the digital revolution has made its impact. As ACI looks at the continued and enhanced utilization of digital technologies in the various projects and collaborative efforts we are engaged in globally, it behooves us to consider the various challenges mentioned today. It is critical that all stakeholders be part of the discussion, today and in the future, to make sure civil society, and others involved in development, wisely use digital technologies to positively impact the under served and disenfranchised around the world.
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10 Things Men And Boys Can Do To Stop Human Trafficking Author: Renaissance Male Project Inc Date: 2010
By Renaissance Male Project Inc., a multi-cultural & multi-issue progressive men’s organization, Columbus, Ohio
Download document (2 pages)
By Renaissance Male Project Inc., a multi-cultural & multi-issue progressive men’s organization, Columbus, Ohio
Download document (2 pages)