JSIS 495: Task Force - Winter 2017: Task Force B

Jessica Beyer  MW 11:30-1:20 THO 134

International terrorist groups, such as ISIS, use the Internet to great effect, recruiting potential members and communicating about attacks. Extremist Internet use includes savvy social media and mobile technology use. In response, the U.S. government has asked technology companies to help it manage this problem through use of content moderation, content monitoring, and providing law enforcement with backdoors into products. Technology companies have attempted to assist the government in some of its requests, but also often “push back” over concerns that government desires to monitor potential terrorists will lead to ordinary consumers’ rights to privacy and expression being violated. The problem before this task force is to recommend policy and practices that will allow law enforcement to protect citizens while also protecting the rights of activists and ordinary people.