Cyber-Security: bytes, frights and spooks

Presented by Hart House Debates Committee

An evening of insightful, interactive discussion on Internet security, policies and global implications.

Details: In an age where actions taken in the virtual realm can have real world consequences, the Hart House Debates Committee presents a free panel discussion on the state of cyber-security.

As researchers and policy-makers alike attempt to navigate the largely uncharted territory of cyber-space, it is vital that citizens remain informed and aware of the threats that exist and what is being done to minimize them.

This event will feature talks from three distinguished speakers who will provide insightful analysis of key issues in cyber-security, followed by an interactive discussion with the audience.

When: Thurs. Nov. 10, 2011. 7:00 - 9:00 pm

Where: East Common Room, Hart House

Cost: Free

Speakers:
Andrew Clement (Information Policy Research Program Coordinator, University of Toronto); Joseph Ferenbok (Collaborative Program Director at the Knowledge Media Design Institute, University of Toronto); Robert Latham (Director of the Centre for International and Security Studies at York University and author of Bombs and Bandwidth: The Emerging Relationship Between Information Technology and Security).

Moderator:
Aliyyah Ahad (student, University of Toronto).

Light refreshments will follow the discussion.

About the Hart House Debates Committee
The agenda of the Debates Committee is to provide opportunities for debate and dialogue on the important issues of the day, through major events like formal debates, public lectures, community service projects, hosting tournaments, and sending a team to the World University Debating Championship tournament. Past topics include the limits of free speech in a pluralistic, democratic society, sharia law in Ontario, H1N1, Religion and Science, and debates among political candidates at the mayoral, provincial and federal level.

Speakers

Andrew Clement is a Professor in the Faculty of Information at the University of Toronto, where he coordinates the Information Policy Research Program and is a co-founder of the Identity, Privacy and Security Institute. With a PhD in Computer Science, he has had longstanding research and teaching interests in the social implications of information/communication technologies and human-centred/participatory information systems development. His research has focused on public information policy, internet use in everyday life, digital identity constructions, public participation in information/communication infrastructure development, and community networking. In relation to his current research on identity, privacy and surveillance, he is a co-investigator in The New Transparency: Surveillance and Social Sorting research collaboration, a seven year SSHRC funded Major Collaborative Research Initiative. One of his affiliated projects is IXmaps, which is developing an internet visualization tool to help people see where their data packets likely pass through surveillance sites.

Robert Latham is a professor in the Political Science Department and the Communication and Culture program at York University.  He is currently a Visiting Fellow at the Infoscape Centre at Ryerson University and just completed his term as director of the York Centre for International and Security Studies.  His research is presently focused on digital activism, technologies of border surveillance; critical theories of sovereignty, transnational relations, migration, and multiculturalism; he has also worked on international communication politics; the politics of knowledge and large-scale monitoring systems; security and IT; human security and ecology; and global governance. Among his publications are "Border Formations: Security and Subjectivity at the Border" (Citizenship Studies); "What are We? From a Multicultural to a Multiversal Canada;" (International Journal) "Social Sovereignty" (Theory, Culture & Society); Digital Formations: IT and New Architectures in the Global Realm (co-edited with Saskia Sassen); and Bombs and Bandwidth: The Emerging Relationship Between Information Technology and Security.

Joseph Ferenbok is faculty at the Institute of Communication, Culture and Information Technology at the University of Toronto.  His research interests focus on themes of privacy, accountability and transparency in (video) surveillance and how “the face” may play a role in views of digital surveillance.  His research includes the augmentation of identification documents with technologies, such as radio frequency ID (RFID) chips and biometrics like face recognition/comparison software and how these technologies change relationships of power between individuals and institutions.