State of Surveillance

A secret multi-billion dollar industry created a system that lets the government to identify, track, and watch people through devices such as phones and computers. One company offers the ability to track political opponents, another company says it can take control of cell phones and use it to listen in on conversations as well as take pictures of the owners, another company lets users to see what they see, and the last company offers to record multiple phone calls and store them forever. Brochures and other marketing material are known as “spy files” released on WikiLeaks and a human rights group Privacy International. This industry is worth a lot and is quickly growing. These brochures are not yet available but they are being handed out to certain people first. These documents are so important that they are said to have come out of a Hollywood film. However, the content is real. They can do so much with these files from searching texts, phone calls, pictures, basically anything on every day devices used by millions. Many are afraid these documents will be abused and these powers will be used for unimportant issues. It is easy to take advantage of this but must not because this can only go so far to a certain point.

The files have already been abused and they are being used to monitor the people of the country. If they go in the wrong hands the situation can be deadly. They must not go into the wrong hands because then it not only can be deadly but other people can get hurt. People in China can now even crack passwords for devices and even accounts on Google. This should only be accessible by the few highest top authorities and no one else. I don’t even like the fact that there is such a thing because it cuts into everyone’s privacy.

http://www.guatemala-times.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2718:the-state-of-surveillance&catid=181:internet&Itemid=511

Think Before You Post

Fifty percent of teenagers post personal information online without being aware of what that may do to them. Then the EU decided to make a deal with 18 leading web companies but the results were different. Then the companies decided to put safeguards on 25 of social media sites including Facebook, MySpace, and YouTube. Following that two other firms decided to join. After some time the websites now offer privacy options such as blocking users, choosing what the public can see, and removing material they do not want to be seen. However, half of the companies that have promised to add into default settings the option to make online profiles and contact lists to private for users under the age of 18 did not follow through. Also, they know now have search bars where you can look for minors and harassment links but only some respond to it. The European commission really wanted companies to act on this and were happy that many have but they really want to prevent users from posting personal information about themselves on the public web. Since social media sites have grown a lot in popularity among the younger population, they believe that they have a mindset that they are within a set of good friends within the social media sites. Instead, they may not be aware that their information is exposed to more than their “friends” such as sexual predators and advertisers. The EU is very worried because their safety and privacy are in European law.

Many people post information about themselves being unaware of who and what can gain access to this information. All users must post after realizing what the consequences might be after their post goes up. Opinions, comments, and thoughts are triggered from posts and they can all vary from agreeing with you to disagreeing completely. This can also trigger an argument that could possibly turn into something bigger that isn’t worth from one unnecessary post.

http://www.guatemala-times.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1499:donat-be-stupid-think-before-you-post-on-the-internet&catid=181:internet&Itemid=511

Online Censorship in Guatemala

A Twitter user was arrested, facing charges for “intent to incite financial panic” as human rights activists have received death threats via SMS, a YouTube video blamed high rank authorities for the murder of a lawyer, protests requesting the President to quit were live-streamed, and now the arrest of the Twitter user. However, many of the Twitter users who have received the Twitter users tweet were not affected because they did not have access to it.

The quickness of the user’s arrest was thought to have expressed a “chilling effect” for the social networks of Guatemala but instead has served as the opposite. More and more users are now active on social media sites locally and globally fighting for open internet and free flow of ideas using any media. They would also like for it to be official by the Inter-American Convention of Human Rights. The blogger has been fined about $5,000 and put under house arrest.

https://opennet.net/blog/2009/05/%E2%80%9Cfinancial-panic%E2%80%9D-and-online-censorship-guatemala

More Cell Phones Than People

While in our every day lives we use appliances such computers, cell phones, microwaves, refrigerators, and more, they are being thrown away in garbage dumps and even rivers. Many people are unaware of what these appliances contain some being toxic substances which can create harm to others. Chrome, mercury, lead, selenium, and arsenic are only some of the substances found and according to studies can cause serious illnesses including brain damage, cancer, miscarriages, reduced male fertility, and genetic malformation. All of these chemicals somehow end up in the water sooner or later and causes a huge risk as it can become scarce. The use of electronic devices are growing exponentially as there are no guidelines on handling solid waste. Mobile phones are only being used for six to nine months as the fashion and technological appearance drives the consumers to want more and more even when they are not needed. Cell phone usage is growing so much that there are more cell phones being used than there are people along with computers, digital cameras, and TV sets. Although, cell phones are not the biggest devices, they can pollute a lot more than meets the eye. According to the article a single nickel cadmium battery cell phone can pollute 50,000 liters of water. Two engineers, Sonia Solis and Andres Chicol are planning to raise public awareness about this problem. E-waste has become a huge problem creating chemical toxins to be exposed throughout bodies of water around Guatemala. As previously stated, one small device could cause a lot of harmful damage as well as health problems. It is a serious problem that must be taken care of one step at a time. Only five percent of the country’s solid waste produced daily gets recycled, however it states that it creates opportunities for people who have none. A non-profit called Edulibre, donates old computers to public schools in poor areas then they have also set up computer labs in the capital and other parts of the country consisting of more than 1,000 children.

http://www.guatemala-times.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3040:more-cell-phones-than-people-and-no-e-waste-treatment-in-guatemala&catid=77:personal-tech&Itemid=177

Facebook Helps Family Reunite

In Guatemala City, Guatemala, siblings lost contact with each other after being separated by war from 1960-1996. With the help of Facebook, sisters and brother Ofelia, Avilio, and Elsira Funez Velasquez reunited after 31 years at the headquarters of the Mutual Support Group. Ofelia and Avilio grew up in the family’s home town of La Democracia, in Huehuetenango, orphaned when their parents were killed.

However, Elsira, their sister, was adopted by a family in Honduras more than 20 years ago. Without knowing where her siblings were she studied nursing in San Pedro Sula and started a family. With the help of the Mutual Support Group, they helped reunite another one of the family’s children, Criserio, with brother Avilio.

Their picture was posted on Facebook then their sister Elsira spotted them and immediately contacted the Mutual Support Group for help. One of the sisters said, “I felt so happy because I have found my sisters and brother,” who is now 35 years old and was separated from her brother and sisters at the age of four.

Luckily, there have been at least four of the seven children that have been brought together to reunite but three of the children remain missing: Victor, Estela, and Roberta.

Who would have thought a social media site would bring a family together? I felt very happy knowing a family was brought together even if it was not the entire family. I used to not be a fan of Facebook but reading this story made me think more highly of it. There will always be bad situations that are created through Facebook but knowing it can also bring do good things such as reunite a family is something I hope to see and read about more often. Social media have been known to be mostly negative as students would “waste” their time on these sites but maybe that time will lead to something better.