Part A :

Hi Jan. Sorry, my tutorial finished late.

No problem Steve!

But let' s get straight to work.

I've got so many other assignments this week!

And we've only got till next Wednesday.

Sure, fine by me.

So, we've got to do a combined presentation, with at least 20 slides and a recommendation at the end.

Is that right?

Yes.And then 5 minutes for questions ...

Oh, right, I'd forgotten that.

So - what shall we choose as a topic?

I was wondering about copyright ...

or intellectual property law.

It's a tricky area though.

Well, I've been doing a bit of reading about digital privacy and it's actually a really challenging issue now.

I mean, the way employers and government departments rely on commercial databases for information on people.

OK, that sounds like it has potential.

Tell me more - I can't say I've read much about it.

Um ... well, these databases compile Information on all sorts of things, not just birthdates and income.

They record people's lawsuits and convictions, employment history,

credit rating, medical history - a range of statistics and stuff that is often out of date or is only partially true.

And they get this information from public records on the Internet?

You mean it's actually available online?

Yes, and that's the problem.

We live in such a networked society now.

There's so much data on the net, and it's really accessible.

Often the company employees who compile these databases include dated information or get confused by similar names and list the wrong details for people.

I'm starting to get the idea.

What kind of things can go wrong?

Well, for example,

a sales manager was fired because of a background check by a data company which reported that he'd served a jail term.

He protested, but his boss still fired him.

All he'd had was something minor like a speeding ticket.

He suffered an unjust dismissal plus the stress of trying to find another job.

He was out of work for seven months.

I see. OK,

this has really got me thinking now!

It's a great topic.

Part B :

Ah ...l 'm thinking now about how the search engines apparently compile information on people,

based on their online search habits ...

you know, there's been a bit in the news lately.

I guess that's pertinent.

That's right, it's all part of this same issue.

The search engines actually gather a huge amount of data about computer users,

and some of it is definitely sold to other paying customers.

The database companies sell lists to direct-marketing companies, for example.

That's their core business, so they're always trying to access more information in order to attract new clients and improve their profitability.

Hmm. What about social networking sites?

How much of that information is truly private?

Not a lot, it seems.

And hackers can download sensitive information and misuse it as well.

Also, every time you fill out an online form or survey to enter a prize draw, you're compromising your privacy.

I never thought about that.

I often enter those, and give my email address and mobile number.

Well, apparently in Europe they have laws controlling the ability of companies to sell or share people's personal data without getting explicit consent.

But that's not the case here.

Then that could be our main recommendation.

Yes - and then we can advise people to actually purchase their own credit reports and files from a few of the big database cmpanies,

to check that the information stored on them is actually accurate.

It's so frustrating to have to do something like that!

For sure. Also bloggers should be very cautious - they can be sued for breaches of privacy and for libel.

Even Twitter comments aren't exempt from legal action.

So that's another area to consider for suggestions.

Anyway, we need to decide how to split this up.

How about if one of us does an overview of the general issue and the history of it all to date?

I think I might tackle that.

You'd better on the technical stuff.

Great. Then I'll look at new development and make policy recommendations.

For example, there are technology researchers looking at how access to files and information can be restricted.

Because, you know,

originally the Internet was designed to be as open as possible...

That's right. And instead, it's created a real conflict.

Already some of the browser companies are working on solutions to this - such as offering a tracking protection feature that users can switch on,

to restrict how much data can be mined from their computer use.

And there are a few other ideas out there as well...

And about the question slot...

I seem to remember Professor Duncan suggesting we prepare a couple of question ourselves,

in case no one asks anything.

Hmm, I guess that's a good idea.