Research Proposal By Raz Stuchiner

For my research assignment, I would like to investigate the inner workings of information collection on the digital platform. In today s world, information is power and a massive amount of information is uploaded, collected, and shared around the world. Individual privacy is currently at stake and it may have !een compromised. "hat are the conse#uences$ "hat kind of information is stored$ "ho s collecting it$ %y main focus will !e on government and criminal organizations. %y !ackground in information security compels me to unveil the world that lays !eneath social media and internet communication. %any of those who work in the technical field have a general idea of what is !eing done, !ut the reason for why it is happening is still unknown. &ould there !e !enefits to collecting information$ For whom$ "hat does this mean for the average person$ Is there a limit$ 'rganized movements on every corner of digital world are scouring for e(pansion and control, it is clear that this nation, and perhaps humanity itself, is at a turning point. )echnology, is #uickly making its way to everyone on this planet. It will !e up to us as a people to decide how we use it. &learly there have !een disagreements. "ith this in mind, it is important to ask not only why some have !een collecting information, !ut why several have !een heavily opposing it to the point that it compromises their livelihood. Peeking into the lives of leakers and what they have left !ehind might help reveal the tension of those in opposition. In regards to recent events it is clear that no!ody is immune to the power of information. )housands of identities are stolen daily, thousands of computers are hacked *including government computers+ daily, and !oth the private lives of citizens and secret affairs of governments and corporations are !eing e(posed for all to see. ,ll of this would-ve !een inconceiva!le ./ years ago yet today, in the midst of humanity-s technological infancy, we are facing a crisis with an outcome that will ultimately define how the human race decides to regard a

person-s identity. "hat role does the average person play in this turning point$ &an this !e undone$ Should it !e undone$ "ho-s responsi!le$ ,t what point does the convenience of technology !ecome conse#uential$ "ho gets to ultimately decide that$

It is clear that information !ased technology is insepara!le from today-s society and that it is no longer a single minded effort. )he same tools that we use to e(press ourselves and connect with the world, are !eing used to counteract 0ust that. "hat is freedom of speech without anonymity$ 1ow significant is our digital identity when compared to our physical identity$

For my research paper, I plan on asking these #uestions to local students, politicians, and government officials in order to see where they stand. I don-t e(pect an easy answer and I can only hope for a tension that can em!ody the digital war that is constantly !eing fought to this day.

I also personally !elieve that this topic has not !een given enough attention. It is our social and moral responsi!ility as citizens *leaders and followers+ to address these pro!lems. Information security and collection is the test of our generation, !ut it is !eing shrouded in the veil of cy!erspace and government secrecy.

%y goal for this assignment is not to uncover the right way of handling these situations, !ut to capture this fragile moment in our history !efore the page turns, for it is turning #uickly. ,t least it-ll !e on record somewhere, right$