Dear friends,
“In the struggle for freedom of information, technology -- not
politics -- will be the ultimate decider.”
These words, originally uttered by Sir Arthur C Clarke many years
ago, have been quoted frequently in the current debate surrounding
WikiLeaks and freedom of information.
I invoke these words, and many other related reflections by the late
author and futurist, in a 2,250-word essay I have just written. Titled
'Living in the Global Glass House', it is presented in the form of an
Open Letter to Sir Arthur, and available at:
http://groundviews.org/2010/12/19/living-in-the-global-glass-house-an-open-letter-to-sir-arthur-c-clarke/
While it was inspired by the current WikiLeaks controversy, it also
touches on some other issues related to our information society. I look
at what it means for individuals, corporations and governments to live in
the Age of Transparency. I also wonder where the 'Digital Pied Pipers' of
Facebook might eventually lead us (or our children)...
Please visit, read and join the conversation! Also feel free to tweet,
blog or reproduce the essay anywhere - there is no copyright
restriction.
With best wishes,
Nalaka