climate and comms

In many countries around the World, access to the Internet is seen as a basic right, and so it should be.    Those countries which have done so to date include :  Estonia, France,  Spain,  Greece  and Finland,  which was actually the first to do so in June 2010.  ( http://www.publicserviceeurope.com/article/642/internet-access-should-be-a-human-right)  I In fact the United Nations recently declared Internet access as a human right. ( http://www.itproportal.com/2011/06/04/un-declares-internet-access-as-a-human-right/ ) Obviously the next challenge is to build the infrastructure and provide the means of access.    But that is the subject of a separate discussion. So the “World”  has woken up to the importance of closing the digital divide and has also realized the importance of the Internet, and access to it,  to the functioning of society.   Amongst the many momentous events of the last twelve months which have included epochal scenes such as the Arab Spring, the new Financial c

I know,   I know – I hear the howls of protest even before finishing this first sentence.   “What about all the innocent lives exposed by the irresponsible publication of peoples names in positions of authority or in sensitive roles. ?”    But where does the fault lie ?  With those doing the breaking and entering?   Or those not providing adequate protection??  It is liked leaving your house locked without an alarm system, going on holiday, and coming back and finding it broken into.   Don’t be surprised.  You have no one to blame but yourself.  “ But these are criminals ! “  – I hear the sounds of self righteous chest thumping.    Maybe, but what they have done – I hope – is scare the s**t out of anyone who has anything (data) that is accessible via the Web  - and into ensuring that their ‘security’ ( if any ) - is rapidly upgraded.    This ranges from personal users who have Gmail accounts to corporations and Governments who are custodians over much of your and my personal data