2008 Woodie Awards
Speaker discusses Patriot Act, file sharing with students
By Rachel Seeman
Issue date: 4/15/05 Section: News
Slippery Rock University's Commonwealth Association of Students (CAS) sponsored a lecture Thursday regarding how the Internet is being used in identity theft and surveillance. CAS is a revived organization that was at SRU about 50 years ago.
"CAS is an organization tackling student issues," President Rob Amborsino said. "The Patriot Act and file sharing affects everyone. Those issues are something important to students."
Diane Bowser, of Clarion University, gave a lecture regarding three legislations: the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), the Patriot Act and the Homeland Security Act (HSA).
The DMCA allows companies like Sony to prosecute people for illegally downloading music and movies.
The Internet allows providers to track what songs and movies are downloaded and how often they are played on the computer.
The Patriot Act allows the government to easily obtain search warrants for individuals they suspect for illegal activity.
The HSA established the Department of Homeland Security to defend the U.S. borders and protect its citizens.
"First of all, make sure you're not giving out your data," Bowser said. "You don't know what you ought to hide."
Your Social Security number is the one identifying number that allows agencies to track you. Anything, including college documents, with that number on it can be correlated back to databases. Financial and medical records can also be tracked.
Even if you pay in cash, some stores ask for your name, phone number and zip code. Companies can get your Social Security number from the personal information that you give them, Bowser said.
If you buy something from a person who is connected with terrorist groups, your name can end up on the list for questionable practice through the purchase, Bowser said.
"Once your name is in the system, your name is in the system," Bowser said.
Bowser said in 1996, 60 percent of all employers had systems that tapped into your computer at home if you logged into their network from it. In 1998, that number increased to 90 percent.
"CAS is an organization tackling student issues," President Rob Amborsino said. "The Patriot Act and file sharing affects everyone. Those issues are something important to students."
Diane Bowser, of Clarion University, gave a lecture regarding three legislations: the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), the Patriot Act and the Homeland Security Act (HSA).
The DMCA allows companies like Sony to prosecute people for illegally downloading music and movies.
The Internet allows providers to track what songs and movies are downloaded and how often they are played on the computer.
The Patriot Act allows the government to easily obtain search warrants for individuals they suspect for illegal activity.
The HSA established the Department of Homeland Security to defend the U.S. borders and protect its citizens.
"First of all, make sure you're not giving out your data," Bowser said. "You don't know what you ought to hide."
Your Social Security number is the one identifying number that allows agencies to track you. Anything, including college documents, with that number on it can be correlated back to databases. Financial and medical records can also be tracked.
Even if you pay in cash, some stores ask for your name, phone number and zip code. Companies can get your Social Security number from the personal information that you give them, Bowser said.
If you buy something from a person who is connected with terrorist groups, your name can end up on the list for questionable practice through the purchase, Bowser said.
"Once your name is in the system, your name is in the system," Bowser said.
Bowser said in 1996, 60 percent of all employers had systems that tapped into your computer at home if you logged into their network from it. In 1998, that number increased to 90 percent.
