Internet Technology: Liberating or Controlling

Dr. Farid Farahmand
Assistant Professor Engineering Science Department, Sonoma State University

Cerent Engineering Science Complex, Salazar Hall 2009A
4:00 PM

Abstract – The rise of the Information Technology has revolutionized every facet of our existence. At the heart of this upheaval is the Internet, particularly the World Wide Web technology. The Internet was introduced as a tool of freedom, freeing its users from any physical limitation, a challenge to media monopoly through enabling the free flow of information, and thus a new realm in which the power of institutions over people would be eroded. In this discussion we explore contradictions of the Internet and the Web, both in the ways we use them and the ways they operate. Undoubtedly, these technologies offer tremendous convenience and innovative ways connecting people together. Yet, as we point out, they are increasingly being embraced as instruments of control, monitoring, and oppression by powerful institutions and governments. In fact, the Internet and the Web, similar to any other technology, are far from neutral and their power can only be understood within the existing socio-economic forces.

Dr. Farid Farahmand is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Engineering Science at Sonoma State University. He is also the director of Advanced Internet Technology in the Interests of Society Laboratory. Prior to this position, Dr. Farahmand worked as the research scientist at Alcatel-Lucent Corporate Research and was involved in development of terabit optical routers. Dr. Farahmand holds multiple international patents, numerous reference conference articles and journal publications, and several book chapters, on the subjects of wireless communications, optical networking, green networking, and delay tolerant networks. He has also authored many educational papers focusing on eLearning and Active Learning in classrooms. Farid is actively involved in organizing many conferences and serves as the reviewer and co-editor to a number of technical conferences and journals. He is a member of IEEE, ASEE, and Engineers Without Borders- USA.