Technology and personal freedom.

• Author: Kyer, C. Ian
• Position: Canada - Forum: Democracy & the Internet

In 1949 George Orwell published his famous 1984, a book in which he warned of the dangers of technology. (1) He envisioned a world in which Big Brother was able to use technology to monitor and shape people's thoughts and actions, enabling societal control and the suppression of personal freedom. In January 1984 Apple Computer ran its famous commercial introducing the Macintosh computer: A series of drone-like people were seen marching into a hall where Big Brother exhorted them on a large computer screen. Suddenly, a young woman in a tank top and shorts ran into the room, twirling and throwing a large sledgehammer as if in an athletic competition, and destroyed the image of Big Brother. The voice-over told people that the introduction of the "Mac" would be why 1984 would not be 1984. (2) Clearly Apple saw its technology and the personal computer as liberating. This may be a case of moving from the sublime to the ridiculous, but Orwell's book and Apple's advertisement reflect a long time debate--is technology liberating or enslaving? This debate arises periodically with the introduction of new technology. For example, in 1811 English textile workers known as the Luddites protested the changes brought about by the Industrial Revolution, which they felt threatened to enslave them.

The question of whether the Internet promotes democracy is an aspect of that debate. Many see the Internet as promoting freedom of expression and giving individuals a powerful and easily accessible means of reciprocal communication. The Internet is viewed as having been created as a protection mechanism--difficult to shut down in a nuclear attack--and a hallmark of government inability to suppress Internet communication. Others, however, point out that while suppression may be difficult the tracking of individual postings is relatively easy. This counter-argument notes that people communicate with their personal computers much more candidly than how they otherwise would, failing to acknowledge that the tools for tracking postings on the Interact are numerous, powerful and easily accessible. Monitoring of individual expression has never been easier.

The reality is that the Internet--like all technology--is neither inherently liberating nor enslaving. It is a tool that is capable of either or both, depending on how it is used by individuals and governments, and how it is regulated. Again, there are parallels in history. In the 17th century, the relatively new...