This document discusses the implications of emerging technologies like free and open-source software, 3D printing, drones, and robotics. It notes that while these technologies can enable positive outcomes like education, they also potentially enable threats if used for harmful purposes like weapons. The document raises questions about how software developers and society should think about responsibilities given the dual-use nature of technologies and their ability to spread rapidly online. It argues for encouraging open debate about dangers while recognizing both risks and opportunities.
1. [N
J ♥
Mindful Play:
]
Free Software, Peer Production and Human Rights
Jonah Bossewitch
PhD Candidate, Columbia University
http://alchemicalmusings.org
2. The Joker’s Detonators
Free Software and Human Rights
Jonah Bossewitch
PhD Candidate, Columbia University
http://alchemicalmusings.org
3. Ask me about software freedom
“Education is the
unfinished business of the
revolution”
Malak Zaalouk, Director of the Middle East
Institute of Higher Education
Online learning and
education can help
reduce "extremism" in
the world
Daphne Koller, Co-Founder of Coursera
4. Criminalizing Communications
- Intelligence and Communication have
always been powerful, and often lethal.
- National Defense Authorization Act:
- Software as speech? Material support?
- Aiding and Abetting?
5. Playing with Fire:
Not just for hobbyists
- Android
- DIY Drones
- 3-D Printing
- Open-Source Guidance Systems
- Arduinos
6. Android
- General Purpose Computing Platform
- Cell phone hardware requirements have
enabled drones, and the commodification of
precision components
8. 3-D Printing
- Wiki Weapons project - http://defensedistributed.com
“This project might change the way we think about gun
control and consumption. How do governments behave
if they must one day operate on the assumption that
any and every citizen has near instant access to a
firearm through the Internet? Let’s find out.”
9. Open Source Toy Rockets
- Open hardware and software designs for high
powered model rocketry & guidance systems
10. Arduinos
- Little Buddy in Italian
- Open-Source Actuators: Control systems that
sense, decide, and act on the physical environment
11. Bomb Kiddies?
- How long does it take to assemble an IED?
- How long to assemble your second?
- Designs evolving on internet-time, exchanged
on distributed exchanges (e.g. Pirate Bay?)
12. Sentient Landmines
- Face Detection?
- Networked Detonations??
- Random Detonations???
13. It from Bit
- Platform is somewhat irrelevant...
- The critical transitions are from:
- Hardware Software
- Individuals Network
14. Please, describe your problems
Joseph Weizenbaum (1923-2008)
- Plug & Pray (2010)
- Dr. ELIZA - http://bit.ly/10VLdoG
15. “‘The technology itself is neutral and value-free and it just
depends how one uses it...’ Well, that is false... we live in a
concrete society, [and] with concrete social and historical
circumstances and political realities in this society, it is
perfectly obvious that when something like a computer is
invented, then it is going to be adopted will be for military
purposes” - http://tech.mit.edu/V105/N16/weisen.16n.html
“We should always stay mindful
of the dangers that emerge with
new technology and debate
those dangers, because some of
them will turn out to be real."
- http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/obituaries/articles/
2008/03/16/joseph_weizenbaum_85_mit_professor_humanist/
16. Rhetorical Thought Experiments
- Will the first recognizably sentient AI be
running on Free Software?
- Who will try to patent the process we
know as consciousness?
17. Copy-Lefting Ethics?
[ x x ] & HACKTIVISMO
((___)) cDc communications
(' ') July 4th, 2001
_
(U)
/ "A Special Message of Hope"
_
- Human rights licenses
- Hacktivismo Enhanced-Source
Software License Agreement (HESSLA)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
- Torrify Ethical
Software License Agreement (TESLA)
- Prohibits the use or modification of the software
to violate human rights or to introduce features
that spy on the user.
18. Freedoms Collide
- Rejected by the Free Software Foundation,
and most other Free Software communities.
- What webserver runs www.kkk.com?
20. ¿Questions?
- How should the average software developer
think about their responsibilities towards the
potential uses of their creations?
- Will proliferation of these technologies balance
the inequalities, or launch arms races?
- How can we encourage this conversation?
- “Everything is valuable under the right
conditions”...