Symposium: Free Speech and Privacy in the Information Age
Davis Centre
University of Waterloo
200 University Avenue, West
Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1
Canada
Saturday, November 26, 1994
RATIONALE:
The "information superhighway" will have a profound effect on our lives
and the way we communicate in the 21st century. But how will it transform
and be transformed by our understanding of traditional freedoms,
such as free speech and privacy?
This one-day symposium is attended to address the ethical, philosophical,
and legal implications of the Internet and related communications
technologies. Expert speakers from industry, academia, government,
and the legal profession will discuss free speech and privacy in the
information age. A wide spectrum of opinion will be represented.
There will also be a poster session for contributed papers, and a panel
discussion entitled
"Computer Pornography: What Should Universities Do?"
WHO SHOULD ATTEND:
University and public librarians; local, provincial, and federal government
officials concerned with information technology; computer system administrators
from industry and academia; feminists; lawyers involved in information
technology; journalists from print, radio, television, and other media;
professors and students of sociology, philosophy, law, ethics,
and computer science.
PROGRAM:
Currently confirmed speakers and the titles of their talks include:
- The Honourable Mr. Justice JOHN SOPINKA,
Canadian Supreme Court:
"Freedom of Speech and the Protection of Privacy
under the *Charter* in the Information Age".
- Professor URSULA M. FRANKLIN, FRSC, Massey College, University of
Toronto:
"Global Gossip, Homeless Information, and the Notion of
Public Health".
- HENRY SPENCER, SP Systems and University of Toronto:
"Computer System Administration in an Age of
Uncontrolled Information Flow".
- Professor MARGARET ANN WILKINSON, Faculty of Law and Graduate School
of Library and Information Science, University of Western Ontario:
"Perceptual Differences in Approaches to Censorship:
Information Intermediaries and the Implementation of Law".
- PARKER BARSS DONHAM, Political Columnist, Halifax Sunday Daily News
and CBC Political Panellist, Nova Scotia:
[title to be announced].
- Professor GAILE POHLHAUS, Women's Studies and Theology and
Religious Studies, Villanova University:
"The Use of the Internet
as a Vehicle for Pornography - Do We Really Care?"
- Professor Emeritus THELMA McCORMACK, Department of Sociology,
York University:
"Must We Buy Into Technological Determinism?"
- Professor JAY WESTON, Carleton University and the
Ottawa Freenet:
[title to be announced].
SPONSORSHIP:
The symposium is being sponsored by the Institute for Computer Research,
University of Waterloo; the Department of Computer Science, University
of Waterloo; the Dean of the Arts Faculty, University of Waterloo; and
Electronic Frontier Canada.
ORGANIZING COMMITTEE:
- Prof. Harriet Lyons, Women's Studies and Anthropology,
University of Waterloo
- Prof. Jeffrey Shallit, Computer Science, University of
Waterloo
INFORMATION AND REGISTRATION:
Waterloo is approximately 1 hour west of Toronto, Ontario, and
is accessible from Toronto via car, airport limousine, bus, and rail.
Write, phone, fax, or send electronic mail to:
"Free Speech and Privacy Symposium"
c/o Prof. Jeffrey Shallit
Department of Computer Science
University of Waterloo
Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1
Canada
(519) 888-4804
(519) 885-1208 (fax)
shallit@graceland.uwaterloo.ca