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The Christianity Today women's blog provides news and analysis from the perspective of evangelical women. We cover news stories and books related to international justice and evangelism, pregnancy and sexual ethics, marriage, parenting, and celibacy, pop culture, health and body image, raising girls, and women in the church and parachurch.

Her.meneutics is edited by associate editor Katelyn Beaty and online editor Sarah Pulliam Bailey.

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March 31, 2010

Technology's Dark Underbelly

A non-Luddite asks how media saturation shapes our minds and hearts.

Elrena Evans

When news broke that a Pennsylvania school district was using laptop computers to spy on students in their own homes, I did what seemed the only logical thing to do: I panicked. In a world where airports can view detailed images of passengers' naked bodies in the name of security, I confess I often wonder how long it will be until I find myself sitting in Room 101, tracing patterns in the dust and idly scrawling 2+2=5.

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Initially intended as an anti-theft device, the laptops that Lower Merion school district was giving to high school students contained the capability to snap a picture, remotely, should the laptop ever be stolen. School officials reported their ability to recover missing computers in a meeting with school board members, but they didn’t specify how.

Unresolved questions about the laptop scandal, dubbed "Webcamgate," prompted Senator Arlen Specter (D-PA) to hold a special hearing to investigate the topic of students and remote-tracking software. When the school decided to hand out laptops with anti-theft software installed, “it had no intention of dragging Congress into a national debate about wiretapping laws and webcams,” Ars Technica’s Nate Anderson wrote, “but that's exactly what it got.”

InfoWorld's Robert X. Cringely notes that, even when the laptop scare is resolved, it will not be the end of the story: "The unintended consequences of technology can come back and bite you." The real issue is not whether laptops were used to spy on students; it's that they could have been used to do so. The technology was readily available, so that all the school, or any other nefarious user, had to do was switch it on.

The "new frontier" of technology is in the news so often it's nearly cliché. We know that everything from menu-planning to navigation is different in this Brave New World. But I wonder, in light of the recent technology-motivated scandal, if frequent exposure to these sorts of headlines has made us blasé about technology's implications for culture and the future of humanity.

I'm by no means a Luddite; I've embraced much of the technological revolution, and I appreciate its power to be used for good ends, or, simply, to make my life slightly easier. My 1-year-old son fell asleep in his car seat this morning, and rather than unbuckle him to bring him in the house and wake him up when I had to leave again shortly, I parked the car in the driveway and grabbed my laptop so I could work, in the car, while he snoozed. I appreciate the technology that allows me to write, save, edit, and send this post to my editor when it is finished, all without waking my son.

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But I don't often invest the time to think critically about the technology I use. It's just there, a part of my life. What does it mean when you update your Facebook status, enter an address into your GPS, type and print a three-item grocery list because you cannot be bothered to find a pen? How does our relationship with technology inform our relationship with the world as citizens of heaven, first and foremost?

Earlier this month, Google announced the launch of captioning technology that allows YouTube videos to be closed captioned automatically. In a BBC interview, Google CEO Eric E. Schmidt discussed the future of technology as it relates to language translation. Using Google Voice, Schmidt hopes to develop real-time translation software that would allow users to "speak" to people in other languages — "every language that matters," Schmidt said, "in automatic translation."

"At Google we try to build things where you go 'Oh my God,' or 'Wow!' " Schmidt continued. While I didn't say, "Oh my God," I did think "Wow, God, what an amazing way to potentially transform the mission field." Imagine: no more tedious study, no more work on Bible translation. But on the heels of that thought was another, more sobering one: “Every language that matters”? What does that mean? And who decides? It's safe to assume my native tongue will be on the list, but what about the Dani tribe of New Guinea, where a dear family friend spent years living and sharing the Good News?

Last night after our children went to bed my husband and I were discussing Facebook — he’s on, I’m not — and the blurring of public-private spheres that comes with technology like Facebook. It’s wonderful to be able to stay in touch with friends and family members that are geographically distant. I don’t think most people would argue that point. Yet at what point does the connection become too much? Do I really need to know what my middle school Sunday School teacher, say, had for lunch yesterday? And how am I changed by this surfeit of information?

As the world reshapes itself through technology, I’m curious what Her.meneutics readers think about the shape we are taking because of it. What’s good? What’s bad? Where do we need to tread carefully, and how do we know what to do?

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Posted by Katelyn Beaty on March 31, 2010 9:16 AM

Comments

Remember, webcams can always be remotely activated by spyware, hackers, or design (as in the PA school district case). So, when buying a computer with a webcam, make sure it has a removable cover. For computers provided by a third party, e.g. an employer or school, if there is no removable cover make your own using masking tape or something similar. Unless you are using the webcam, it should be covered at all times.

The PA school district case is actually fortunate in that it was uncovered so early, and for a drug-use allegation (which was shown to be false by the parents). Had this situation not been known at this time, it may not be uncovered until someone is charged with making child pornography.

Posted By: Andrew | March 31, 2010 3:19 PM

A significantly better way to prevent a webcam from being activated remotely is to disable the driver software, when not using the webcam, and any Windows remote desktop/remote access services (care should be exercised unless you know what you're doing). The latter is the best solution for a personal system, as these services are necessary for gaining access to the computer. Conversely, the first solution I mentioned is best for computers provided by a third-party with the theft prevention software used by this school. Finally, a software firewall (i.e. Comodo, ZoneAlarm, or Online Armor), can greatly help to prevent situations like this from occurring.

Posted By: cybereagle777 | March 31, 2010 9:01 PM

Malcolm Muggeridge (Sp?) said, "The medium is the message."

His point seemed to be that the medium (the type of media used in conveying a message) is a message in itself. It's something to think long and hard about in regard to technological ways of socializing: Facebook, Twitter, etc.

How is the ability to send an instant message to hundreds of "friends" affect our ability to socialize with flesh-and-blood people? Often people say things (insults, disses, etc.) on-line to people that they wouldn't dare say to their face.

Worse yet, the freedom of saying whatever to whomever online leads to a breakdown in our ability to stop ourselves from saying those same insulting, derogatory things to others in person. Cyberbullying can too often lead to offline bullying, with horrific results.

What does it mean for our definition of "friend" to be shaped by Facebook's definition of "friend"? (I mean, think about it: I have a hundred-odd "friends" on FB. Only about 6-10 would I truly consider as friends in the offline world.) Are we losing the ability to relate to other people in healthy, intimate ways because of the online world?

My mom has a friend whose son informed her that he wouldn't have his 2 best buddies over for his birthday; they would have a virtual party online. "It's easier," he said. Hm.

Notice the irony that I'm saying these things online...

Posted By: Laura Droege | April 1, 2010 2:07 PM

Very interesting blog considering I have read, and understand the book "1984". It's almost funny to me to see how things are unfolding...was the government REALLY that interested in our having a clear picture on our TV to force everyone to have this little black box in their homes? And do people REALLY want to know the truth? But no concerns with me, because I am covered...and protected...by the Blood : )

Great, great, great post.

Posted By: Spirit | April 2, 2010 8:41 AM

"Malcolm Muggeridge (Sp?) said, '"The medium is the message."'
Wrong person. Marshall McLuhan said it not Malcolm Muggeridge.
McCluhan also said "Diaper spelled backwards is "repaid". Think about it." ;-P

Posted By: Dan | April 2, 2010 9:42 AM

My apologies for misremembering the name of the person I quoted. At least I got the initials right! And don't make me think about diapers any more than I already have to! :-)

Posted By: Laura Droege | April 2, 2010 12:58 PM

Its 2012...what a prophetic message. The article is very Orwellian

Thanks Again for the words of wisdom

Posted By: Anonymous | March 3, 2012 10:46 PM

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