Saving Privacy

Because of Edward Snowden’s remarkable public service, we know that the National Security Agency, with the cooperation of some large firms, has amassed an unprecedented database of personal information. The ostensible goal in collecting that information is to protect national security. The effect, according to Reed Hundt, is to undermine democracy.

In his remarks, Hundt—chair of the Federal Communications Commission under President Clinton and early champion of the Internet—will aruge that the law and traditional checks on political power have not kept pace with the digital realm. How should we respond? Hundt proposes a new compact that encourages citizens to use encryption to protect their information and offers government support for technologies and legislation that enable self-protection. Moreover, the government would have to rely on tried-and-true practices of the criminal justice system, not secret backdoors, to police encrypted digital space.

Following Hundt's remarks will be responses from Michael Dearing (Stanford d.school faculty), Jonathan Mayer (Ph.D. candidate in computer science at Stanford), and Jennifer Granick (Director of Civil Liberties at the Stanford Center for Internet and Society). Joshua Cohen (professor of political science, philosophy, and law; and a principal investigator in Stanford's program on Liberation Technology) will facilitate the discussion.

This event is part of a collaboration with Boston Review.