EOTO #2 Reaction: Five Eyes

     After learning about the Five Eyes Alliance, it is both impressive and unsettling. Learning about the network, which allows the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand to monitor all digital footprints, seems unreal. While its origins in World War II and its successes, like preventing the 2010 cargo plane bomb plot, highlight its importance in global security, the ethical and societal implications are hard to ignore. 

Security or Invasion of Privacy?

     The Five Eyes Alliance showcases extraordinary international cooperation. Sharing intelligence and developing technologies like ECHELON has saved lives and enhanced digital security, protecting users from threats such ransomware attacks and data breaches. These achievements highlight its value.

    On the other hand, the same tools designed to protect us also invade our privacy. Edward Snowden’s revelations about programs like PRISM exposed how governments collect data without user consent. This means the government can tap your phone whenever they deem necessary. When does security become unnecessary intrusion? This lack of transparency with the public raises concerns about government overreach.

Societal Impacts

    Surveillance practices, majority of the time, target minority communities, exhibiting discrimination under the disguise of national security. For instance, the unjust monitoring of prominent Muslim leaders, post 9/11, undermines trust in these systems.

    Generational differences also influence perspectives. While older generations may accept surveillance as a sacrifice for safety, younger, more tech reliant, generations prioritize privacy and wonder whether or not the government is overreaching. The constant tracking in digital spaces feels more like a violation than protection.

My Thoughts

    I always knew that the government had the ability to access our personal information, but what i learned was that it was not just the United States that did this. I had no idea that the U.S. was apart of an alliance that tracks digital footprints all around the world. This alliance highlights how world leaders are attempting to stay on top of virtual threats. I also didn't know that so many people were unaware of the governments access to their devices, I thought that was a known thing, but I guess that just goes to show my age a little bit.

Conclusion

   Although the Five Eyes Alliance is a great example of international cooperation, its power needs responsibility. As we figure out the digital era, ensuring that intelligence-sharing aligns with individuals privacy is crucial. By addressing these concerns, we can work towards security without sacrificing fundamental freedoms.

Final Blog Post: Society’s Evolving Bond with Technology and My Personal Connection

  

     
    Technology, the worlds most greatest invention, Or is it? Would the worlds greatest invention influence suicide? or how about murder? Today, technology has become an integral part of our daily lives. From smartphones  to artificial intelligence, technology is reshaping how we live, work, learn, and interact. But as society grows increasingly dependent on it, the relationship we share with technology reveals both immense benefits and significant challenges.

 As stated, technology has changed the way we communicate, learn, and live. Social media platforms and messaging apps have made it so much easier to stay connected with family and friends, regardless of distance. Video calls bridge gaps, making family gatherings, business meetings, and even long-distance friendships feel more personal and meaningful. 

    Education has also seen transformative changes. Online  platforms such as Canvas, Google Classroom and Blackboard make it so much easier for educators to post assignments, grades and course plans for students to see, while tools like Zoom, Webex, and Google meet allow students to attend classes remotely which became so useful during the pandemic. 

    Other aspects of life such as Healthcare and Scientific Research are also positively affected by technology. For healthcare, with continuous advancements in areas like surgical equipment, vital monitoring and lab equipment, doctors are able to provide better results and increase chances of life. As for scientific research, with more advanced computing power, scientists are having breakthroughs in medicine, environmental science, and more. 

    
Despite the many great things that come with technology, its impact is not all positive. One of the most concerning issues is the effect on our mental health. The constant stream of notifications, social media standards, and the pressure to be online all the time can lead to a number of different mental health disorders.

Privacy and security are also growing concerns . From data breaches to government surveillance strategies, individuals’ personal information is more at risk than ever. Social media algorithms manipulate our attention spans by only putting posts you are likely to enjoy on your feed causing you to stay on the platform longer, sometimes without us even realizing it.

Finally, while many benefit from technology, others are left behind due to lack of access or resources. In many cases people can't afford the newest and smartest technology putting them at a disadvantage from those who are financially sound. In terms of education, many public schools can't afford to put the newest technology in their schools, making a larger gap between the resources families can receive at a private school rather than a public school. 

As much as I depend on technology, I know how harmful it can be to my academic performance, social life and my health. This is something I try to keep balanced but definitely struggle with as a young adult. When it comes to technology I will defend it 75% of the time because it has become such a huge part of my life, whether it be for school work, social life, or just everyday life, but I know the struggles others face that stem from technology.

    I would say I use technology more than the average person.  I use my cellphone alone for an average of 45 hours a week. No I am not proud of that but it shows how absorbed I am. Now while specialists may say this is terrible for me and I wouldn't disagree, I feel these are quality hours spent learning, socializing, connecting, relaxing, and planning. While on my phone I learn so many new things whether it be from looking it up myself out of curiosity or scrolling through social media and it popping up on my feed. There is a variety whether it be breaking news, history or just fun facts, I have access to it all in the palm of my hand. Like most people my age, I am always on my phone sending videos to my friends, scrolling through multiple social media platforms or on the phone to my friends and family updating them on what I may have going on. In my eyes, my technology brings mainly good to my life but that doesn't mean I am completely blind to the harm it brings into the world.

    As previously stated, I spend about 45 hours a week on my phone, now although I haven't been effected in a way that would cause depression, anxiety or suicidal thoughts, it effects my health in other ways, sleep being at the forefront. Now with increased screen time, I tend to find myself awake extremely late scrolling through social media, not going to sleep till 3 or 4 am. I know, crazy. Although I know this can affect my daily productivity, overall mood and even my weight, I can't seem to break the cycle no matter how hard I try. Another obstacle I face is procrastination. So many times while trying to complete assignments, this one included, I find myself getting distracted multiple times by getting a notification on my phone and then ending up scrolling through social media for a while before resuming whatever it was I was working on. This is something that I have struggled with since the pandemic, and as the years go by nothing seems to be changing.

    The relationship we have with technology is extremely complicated, and that's not going to change anytime soon. However, as an individual and as a society, we must look for balance. This means taking advantage of technology’s benefits while acknowledging and fixing its weaknesses.

"Navigating the Age of AI: Opportunities, Challenges, and the Future of Humanity"

 

  AI, at the same time as opening up opportunities for man, also presents a potential danger. While AI makes our lives easier by its immense capacity to perform tasks with complete precision, speed, and void of error, it is touted as a potential disruptor of industries and jobs-putting people out of their livelihoods. With its rapid development, AI is not just a tool for executing specific tasks but can learn, evolve, and become more intelligent based on the instructions and data it processes. These computerized systems simulate human actions and, in some cases, outperform us by interpreting and thinking in ways similar to humans. 

How AI Can Benefit Us

    AI offers numerous benefits that can simplify our lives. It enables the performance of various tasks at a much faster speed and with greater accuracy, excluding any human error. Unlike human beings, AI does not tire or slows down when handling large, complex projects; it can handle them most efficiently. It can process and analyze vast amounts of data time-efficiently, revealing patterns and insights that might be daunting for humans to detect. That can help businesses make better decisions, accelerate operations, and also improve customer experiences. AI reduces costs by minimizing human involvement and other expenses, like salaries and office supplies, needed to support them. As a result, companies utilizing AI can better allocate their resources to employees who prove to be the most valuable. This efficiency could eventually trickle down to reduced consumer costs and allow organizations to stay competitive. Other advantages include its high-dimensional data processing capabilities, enabling it to process complex information and present workable insights. Examples are that AI can identify trends, cluster data, and help in higher-order customer segmentation. These capabilities make it invaluable to businesses looking to make informed improvements in their strategies and operations.  

Challenges of AI Technology

However, AI also comes with considerable challenges. Among the major concerns about AI is its uncontrollable nature, whereby it develops patterns and strategies on its own. If not checked, it may grow out of proportion or act in ways that were not intended. There have been cases where AI acted aggressively under stress, which raised eyebrows over its potential to inflict harm if misused or allowed to get out of hand. 

    Another challenge lies in the lack of emotion in AI systems. Unlike human beings, AI cannot put into consideration the wider implications of an action or empathize with others. It processes based on pure logic and programs that sometimes lead to making decisions without considering ethical or emotional concerns. So far, the programming of AI with compassion has not been satisfactory since it lacks the intrinsic emotional framework that human beings possess.

    The most threatening effect of AI is indeed the displacement of human workers. While companies benefit from minimizing labor costs and maximizing productivity, many people may also lose their jobs as AI takes over tasks that had been performed by humans. This could lead to greater economic and social problems if people are unable to get new opportunities in an ever-increasing automated world.  

Conclusion: AI has the capacity to change our lives for the better or worse.

    In as much as it can streamline processes and solve complex problems that are indigestible to the human brain, the potential for job loss and unruly AI behavior is great.

        As AI continues to evolve, proper safeguards and guidelines in ethics will be necessary so that this technology serves humanity rather than harming it. Innovation must be balanced against responsibility as one navigates challenges and opportunities in the era of AI. 

Freedom of Information: Defending Our Right to Truth in a Democratic Society

    We have a basic right to express ourselves and tell news, but in countries like this, the consequence of doing that has to be faced if the action displeases the government. In the following post, the free flow of information, reasons to spread news, and end results of exposing the concealed information by the government would be discussed.

        
    The "Free Flow of Information Act" aims to protect journalists and reporters against being compelled to reveal sources in cases related to investigations at the federal level. Though not national legislation in its own right, it was the result of the pressure by the White House to afford greater protections to media representatives. The Act essentially seeks to preserve freedom in reporting, something that flows from the First Amendment itself and is basically indispensable in a democracy. Without the right to speak out and share information, the democracy we value would be seriously weakened. This act ensures that critical information reaches the public, even when the government would prefer to keep it secret. However, the government usually reacts harshly in such cases of leaks, as they expose wrongdoing. Despite these risks, the free flow of information remains vital to holding the government accountable.

    Although the First Amendment allows us to freely share our opinions and information, there is a limit to this right. For instance, Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, shared classified documents of the U.S. government to the public in order to let them know about certain sensitive issues. His actions led to severe consequences, including imprisonment and calls for his death, because the government sought to prevent such information from being shared. Assange’s case demonstrates how exposing government secrets can lead to persecution, despite the public’s right to know.

      If restrictions to free speech and information-sharing continue, the U.S. is in jeopardy of losing its democratic ideals. The silencing of individuals and burying of critical information could be a path to an even more oppressive regime, where citizens will fear speaking the truth. Governments should acknowledge that they work for the people, and that the people have nothing to fear from seeking or distributing knowledge. As a democracy, we must defend this right to the free flow of information and ensure transparency in government.

    It is, therefore, the right that is vital and must be protected. Every citizen should be allowed to access information without any kind of repercussions, especially regarding government issues. A proper democracy will thrive on openness and accountability, and free flow of information is important for maintaining that balance.

EOTO #2: News Deserts

    For EOTO #2, my topic was News Deserts. In today's digital era, access to reliable, local news should be easier than it has ever been. Yet, numerous communities in the United States and worldwide find themselves in what many have come to describe as "news deserts". These are areas where the local news outlets have either disappeared or diminished, leaving residents to know very little of what is occurring within their communities. This reality carries with it profound implications for democracy, civic engagement, and informed decision-making.

    News deserts refer to communities where there is virtually no local journalism. In large part, this occurs when newspapers close, decline in circulation, or are absorbed into large media chains that put the bottom line above reporting. According to research from UNC's Hussman School of Journalism, the U.S. has lost more than a quarter of its newspapers since 2004, while over 2,500 counties have only one or no newspaper serving them locally. This trend has been driven by economic pressures, with advertising revenues often too low for operations in rural areas. Digital platforms like Facebook and Google only make matters worse by sucking up all of the ad dollars without replacing any of the local news coverage. Without access to local journalism, information gaps around matters integral to community well-being widen.

     Where local journalists are missing, corruption and mismanagement go unchecked, and voter turnout shrinks because residents don't know anything about local elections or issues. Moreover, local news plays a unifying role by helping residents connect and build interest in their neighbors. This sense of communion quickly disappears without it, as communities in news deserts lack a shared sense of identity and purpose. People in news deserts regularly turn to social media or non-verified sources for information, being highly susceptible to misinformation and fake news. Without advertising opportunities in local outlets, local businesses struggle to reach their communities, further weakening the fabric of the community. News deserts present challenges that cannot be surmounted without innovative solutions and collective action. Funding from governments and private foundations can give grants or subsidies for independent local news outlets as a way to soften financial constraints on small publishers.

    Nonprofit news organizations, such as ProPublica, have proved that successful journalism does not have to be solely supported by advertising revenue. Growing nonprofit newsrooms in areas of news deserts would help bridge vital gaps. Subscriptions or donations from residents can also help to subsidize and save local newspapers. Cooperative ownership models are grassroots initiatives where communities can own their news. But leveraging technology to reduce production costs and improve access can help revive local journalism, too. Hyperlocal digital platforms can create news that is specific to smaller communities with reduced costs. News deserts represent a growing crisis that threatens democracy, civic engagement, and community identity. Though the challenges are great, solutions exist. By fostering local journalism through innovative funding, nonprofit models, and community engagement, we can rebuild the vital networks that connect and inform our communities. Providing every citizen with access to credible, local news is not a luxury; it's absolutely critical to the proper functioning of our society. 

EOTO #1

     

    The printing press is a revolutionary invention that transfers text and images from movable type onto paper or other media with ink. This invention revolutionized the process of knowledge circulation and idea propagation. Movable type and paper originated in China, where both were invented. The oldest extant book printed with movable type is *Jikji*, a collection of Buddhist teachings, produced in Korea in 1377. Although these innovations originated in East Asia, the mechanization of printing became a signature development in Europe in the 15th century where it fundamentally changed how information was disseminated and preserved.

    The first recorded mention of a mechanized printing press in Europe is a 1439 lawsuit in Strasbourg. This legal case described the construction of a press for Johannes Gutenberg and his collaborators. Gutenberg's press borrowed much from the medieval paper press, itself an adaptation of the ancient wine-and-olive presses of the Mediterranean. His press used a long handle to turn a wooden screw, which pressed down upon the paper laid over inked type mounted on a wooden platen. This design allowed the printing to be accurate and even.

    In 1455, Gutenberg printed with his press a text of the Bible-so-called Gutenberg's Bible-which is the first complete surviving book in the West printed from movable type. It heralded a giant leap in mass production of printed books whereby they would become accessible, not to a limited few, but to the masses at large. This technology of the Gutenberg wooden press remained unchanged for over three centuries and was only capable of printing about 250 sheets an hour on one side.

    By the end of the 18th century, metal presses came into general use, which were more durable and efficient. It was during this era that the cylinder press appeared, with incorporation of the main technological innovation-rotating cylinders-to make printing faster and uniform. At about the same time, inventors began experimenting with steam power as a means of increasing productivity. In the mid-19th century, Richard M. Hoe of New York perfected the power-driven cylinder press, which could produce up to 8,000 sheets per hour. A large central cylinder in his press printed successively on the paper of four impression cylinders, an innovation that made high-speed newspaper production possible. While rotary presses dominated large-scale high-speed printing, flatbed presses-which held type on a flat surface and pressed paper against it by either a reciprocating platen or a cylinder-continued to be used for smaller-scale jobs.

    Another transformative innovation of the late 19th century was the offset press. This replaced the old process with a blanket cylinder that continually ran in one direction and imparted the inked image onto the paper by means of an impression cylinder. The offset was very good for color printing as it could apply more colors in one run. This Offset Lithography became the method of choice for books, newspapers, magazines, business forms, and direct mail. Offset printing would remain, in the early 21st century, the most common printing technique, though increasingly put into tension by a growing array of competing digital technologies-including inkjet and laser printing-that allowed for much greater flexibility and personalization.

    The printing press changed not only the way books and printed materials were produced but also became a cornerstone of cultural and intellectual development. Such a press made possible the swift dissemination of ideas, standardization of texts, and democratization of knowledge-three precursors necessary to lay the groundwork for modern mass communication. From Gutenberg's pioneering work to improvements afforded by the industrial and digital eras, printing technology continues its evolution in shaping how information is created, shared, and consumed.

Blog #3: Eight Values of Free Expression

    As American citizens we are aware that we have the right to speak up issues that we feel passionate about no matter our point of view. Through the first amendment we have the freedom of religion, freedom from religion, freedom of speech, freedom of press, freedom of assembly and the right to petition the government. This amendment ensures that the government is not in complete control of our country and emphasizes that we the people, are the ones with power. I could not imagine a world where we are unable to voice our concerns with the government or our personal opinions that the government may disagree with.

    The eight values of free expression emphasize its importance to American democracy and our society. The marketplace of ideas suggests that though people may produce false information, that is okay because in the end the truth will outweigh the falsehood and the dispute will ultimately strengthen the truth. Participation in self government allows citizens to disclose information that may not be known by the public, to help ensure voters are informed on information they may need to know when voting. Stable change gives people a peaceful way to express difference in opinion, reducing the risk of violent uproar. Independent Self-Fulfillment allows citizens to use free speech to express themselves and build a sense of personal growth and self identity. Check on Government Power ensures the public is allowed to criticize the government and hold them accountable. Promote Tolerance encourages multiple viewpoints to be known, promoting open minded decisions. Promote Innovation contributes to intellectual and cultural growth. Through protected free speech people are more likely to be more innovative, active and intriguing. Protect Dissent allows those whose viewpoint are the minority to speak up and be able to have their voices heard, without discrimination.

    In my opinion, the most important value is Check on government power, because it ensures that the government doesn't abuse their power and allows citizens to make sure their representatives are voicing them in a correct manner. As elected government employees, they are put into office in voice their district, county, state or countries viewpoints.

  However, the value that is most personal to me is Stable change. As an African American Woman, discrimination against African American is something that I take very serious. Stable Change has allowed my community to voice their disapproval or discomfort with racial discrimination that happens in our country. In 2020, with the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, the black community went into an uproar. Granted in some cases there was violent acts but for the most part  there were peaceful protests all over the country.

    One value that I see being used today is Participation in Self-Government. During the current election you see a lot of people disclosing information about both candidates to better help voters understand the candidates. Whether it be positive or negative. I think that Participation in Self-Government is a very important aspect during election season because candidates tend to leave information out if it would effect their possibilities of winning.

    These eight values are fundamental to our lives as citizens of a democracy. Through them, we as individuals are allowed to use our voices for whatever we want, emphasizing our first amendment rights, and establishing that we as people are not subject to follow any guidelines in terms of voicing our opinions.