Pixelated Semantics

A schizotypical inventory

SearchCrime

Recent concerns about the use and abuse of search technology are amplified by the news that Microsoft is "communicating both directly and indirectly with those who possess or seek to possess, post, download or share the [ recent ] illegally disclosed source code"

In other words, merely looking for the source code in question is, according to MS, now criminalised. It would appear to be immanent that a legal precedent will widely proscribe undertaking "certain" search activity. Questions over whether or not there is any means of discriminating between "fair use", such as research, and illegal P2P activity or theft of Intellectual Property; or the scale of potential for complete legally enforced censorship of search technology remain to be addressed. This follows clear indications, as exemplified perhaps by the behaviour of certain western IT companies in China, that search technology as the public know it is already subjected to a regime of commercial & political interference with results.

Under Microsoft's interpretation of the law, users may be tracked, harrassed, and prosecuted merely for conducting "specific searches":

"Specifically, Microsoft is sending letters explaining to individuals who have already downloaded the source code that such actions are in violation of the law. Additionally, Microsoft has instituted the use of alerts on several peer-to-peer clients where such illegal sharing of the source code has taken place. These alerts are designed to inform any user who conducts specific searches on these networks to locate and download the source code that such activity is illegal."

The internet is becoming engaged totally with technologies that effectively prevent or strictly regulate access to information. It is both a severe detour from the "highway" of information wanting to be free, and sad that humans end up so degraded in their own potential for discovery.

Meanwhile, web site kuro5shin is currently presenting a pithy look at the semantics of source code's often-colorful comments [ as used to note programming changes ].

Item posted by AutoEditor at 1:22 pm ::