Academic Writing

Ban Killer Robots before They Become Weapons of Mass Destruction

Author(s): 
Peter Asaro
Publication Date: 
August 7, 2015
Publication Type: 
Other Writing

Last week the Future of Life Institute released a letter signed by some 1,500 artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and technology researchers. Among them were celebrities of science and the technology industry—Stephen Hawking, Elon Musk and Steve Wozniak—along with public intellectuals such as Noam Chomsky and Daniel Dennett. The letter called for an international ban on offensive autonomous weapons, which could target and fire weapons without meaningful human control. Read more about Ban Killer Robots before They Become Weapons of Mass Destruction

Can Americans Resist Surveillance?

Author(s): 
Ryan Calo
Publication Date: 
July 25, 2015
Publication Type: 
Other Writing

Abstract

This essay analyzes the ability of everyday Americans to resist and alter the conditions of government surveillance. Americans appear to have several avenues of resistance or reform. We can vote for privacy-friendly politicians, challenge surveillance in court, adopt encryption or other technology, and put market pressure on companies not to cooperate with law enforcement.  Read more about Can Americans Resist Surveillance?

A jail for babies: Absurdity and abuse at the American border

Author(s): 
Aseem Mehta
Publication Date: 
July 22, 2015
Publication Type: 
Other Writing

The government’s approach at the edge of our nation, our southern border, mirrors the way we think of the edge of our own consciousness: a dark place to hide our most absurd and troublesome secrets.

Since December 2014, the government has paid millions of dollars to a private prison corporation to operate what may be the world’s largest internment camp for asylum-seeking women and children. Nearly 2,000 mothers and their young kids, fleeing persecution and seeking protection under international law, are currently caged and abused by our government in southern Texas. Read more about A jail for babies: Absurdity and abuse at the American border

The FBI’s Problem Isn’t “Going Dark.” Its Problem is Going Slowly

Author(s): 
Marshall Erwin
Publication Date: 
July 16, 2015
Publication Type: 
Other Writing

It should be clear to even casual observers today that the “golden age of surveillance” thesis is fundamentally correct. We live in a time when far more data and surveillance opportunities are available to law enforcement and intelligence agencies than ever before. Even the National Security Agency has conceded the point. Read more about The FBI’s Problem Isn’t “Going Dark.” Its Problem is Going Slowly

Real Family Values: Planning for a Future that Ensures Dignity for an Aging Population

Author(s): 
Emily Baxter
Publication Date: 
July 15, 2015
Publication Type: 
Other Writing

In the coming years, our nation will face myriad challenges related to the care of the growing number of aging Americans. Elder care encompasses many things, from health care to retirement security to the mental, physical, and financial costs of caring for those who cared for us. Current policies and practices for tending to the needs of elders are expensive, haphazard, and emotionally challenging. Read more about Real Family Values: Planning for a Future that Ensures Dignity for an Aging Population

The Iran deal reflects the U.S.’s overwhelming power over the world’s financial system

Author(s): 
Henry Farrell
Publication Date: 
July 14, 2015
Publication Type: 
Other Writing

There is good reason to believe that Iran was prepared to reach a deal over its nuclear program because it was tired of dealing with U.S. sanctions. In President Obama’s words, “We put sanctions in place to get a diplomatic solution, and that is what we have done.” This is a remarkable victory for U.S. economic diplomacy, given how difficult it is to create and maintain an effective sanctions regime. Read more about The Iran deal reflects the U.S.’s overwhelming power over the world’s financial system

Hacking Team leak underscores complexity of regulating software

Author(s): 
Geoffrey King
Publication Date: 
July 13, 2015
Publication Type: 
Other Writing
Read more about Hacking Team leak underscores complexity of regulating software

Among the 400 gigabytes of internal documents belonging to surveillance firm Hacking Team that were released online this week are details of the company's dealings with some of the most oppressive governments in the world. The revelations, which have generated alarm among privacy, security, and human rights advocates, have also fueled debate around the esoteric but important topic of government controls on the export of powerful software that can secretly infiltrate and seize control of targeted computers.

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