The Basics of
Data Security:
Governments
CC-BY
Fabian M. Suchanek
Overview
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Free speech
•
Free speech in the world
•
Protecting your free speech
Free Speech
Freedom of expression
(sometimes synecdochically called
freedom of speech
) is the freedom to
seek, receive, and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally,
in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of one’s choice.
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Freedom of expression is a human right (§ 19 of the UN Declaration of Human Rights).
Limits of free speech
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Governments typically limit free speech to prohibit
• child pornography
• libel
• graphical violence
• trade secrets
• personally identifiable information
• threats
• encouragement of violence
• military secrets
However, liberal democraties will always allow criticism of
- a political party
- a government
- a religion
Why is that?
[Maxwell, Mialon, Rubi, Post]
(≈ what causes harm
to another individual)
Optimizing life quality
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Suppose you want to optimize the following function.
life
quality
choice of government, laws, religion, party, ...
you are
here
questioning
the status quo
Optimizing life quality
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Suppose you want to optimize the following function.
life
quality
you are
here
Can you
still optimize
this function?
choice of government, laws, religion, party, ...
Optimizing life quality
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Suppose you want to optimize the following function.
life
quality
you are
here
Can you
still optimize
this function?
You cannot optimize this function if you cannot see it!
choice of government, laws, religion, party, ...
Optimizing life quality
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Suppose you want to optimize the following function.
life
quality
you are
here
What if your system
prohibits seeing
the entire function?
choice of government, laws, religion, party, ...
Optimizing life quality
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Suppose you want to optimize the following function.
life
quality
you are
here
What if your system
prohibits seeing
the entire function?
Is it better or worse
here?
If it is worse, why is
it prohibited to see it?
choice of government, laws, religion, party, ...
Optimizing life quality
10
Suppose you want to optimize the following function.
life
quality
you are
here
What if your system
prohibits seeing
the entire function?
Is it better or worse
here?
If it is worse, why is
it prohibited to see it?
choice of government, laws, religion, party, ...
A system that prohibits you from seeing other options is most likely not the best one.
It probably has other interests than your well‐being.
Optimizing life quality
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Suppose you want to optimize the following function.
life
quality
you are
here
But what if
you’re just doing fine?
You have a job, health care,
money, decent freedom.
Why should you care about
the “forbidden places”?
choice of government, laws, religion, party, ...
Optimizing life quality
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Suppose you want to optimize the following function.
life
quality
you are
here
choice of government, laws, religion, party, ...
What if
-
your system takes a
decision you don’t like?
-
your country invades
a neighboring country?
-
the minimum wage
decreases?
-
the petrol price falls?
-
food no longer subsidised?
-
you go to indefinite
lockdown?
- women are no longer allowed to go to university?
- one of your family members disappears?
- a terrorist appears who has the same name as you?
Optimizing life quality
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Suppose you want to optimize the following function.
life
quality
you are
now
here
choice of government, laws, religion, party, ...
Would you now like to
see the other parts
of the function?
Optimizing life quality
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Suppose you want to optimize the following function.
life
quality
choice of government, laws, religion, party, ...
Would you now like to
see the other parts
of the function?
It’s too late! All laws, surveillance machinery, and censorship is already in place.
The abolition of freedom of expression is often a one‐way street.
=> You have to care about it while you still can
you are
now
here
Do we want instability?
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