Date: Sun, 17 Dec 1995 10:44:33 -0700
Reply-To: Mark Weigand <mweigand@usa.net>
From: mail.usa.net@usa.net
Subject: Re: Internet and Social Movements
To: REVS@csf.colorado.edu


<---- Begin Forwarded Message ---->
From: mail.usa.net
Subject: Re: Internet and Social Movements
To: munozr@osiris.Colorado.EDU, PROGRESSIVE SOCIOLOGISTS NETWORK 
<psn@csf.colorado.edu>

This is a message to all REVS and PSN members. Perhaps you have seen the
request for information from a Robert Munoz@osiris.colorado.edu. He says he
is a graduate student at CU and just wants information for his research about 
using the Internet in behalf of social movements. There is a questionaire for us 
to fill out, which of course will also provide him with an international list of 
email addresses.

Frankly, I am very hesitant to respond to such requests, even if they are 
perfectly legitimate. By way of background, I teach a course called "Computers 
and Society" which addresses issues of privacy invasion and possible control of 
the Internet now and in the future.

In this case, at a minimum we need some positive identification and perhaps a 
letter of recommendation from Mr. Munoz's dissertation committee which verifies 
that he is in fact a graduate student, and also verifies both the intent and 
sponsorship of his research. I believe that this type of research will become a 
much larger issue in the future as many government and private agencies seek to 
gather information about users of the Internet. In the meantime, we should all
be cautious and skeptical, even when such requests come from social scientists.

I would appreciate any comments others may wish to offer on this topic.
Thanks.
     
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