SDSU
A Gift of Fire:
Social, Legal, and Ethical Issues for Computers and the Internet
(2nd ed.)
by Sara Baase

Recent Additions and Changes to Gift of Fire Web Site

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5/20/09: Removed some dead links on the Resources page.

11/26-28/07: Updated information and table of contents for third edition.

8/1/07: Posted (revised) final Table of Contents (pdf file) for the 3rd edition.

7/1/07: Added early draft of Table of Contents for the 3rd edition.

4/24/07: Added instructors seeking material for large classes.

2/27/07: Announcement of 3rd edition.

4/16/06: New link on the Resources page for Ch. 5 re e-mail.

4/13/06: Added a book to the book list.

4/3/06: New link on the Resources page for Ch. 6.

3/20/06: Update for Chap. 6 re copyright infringement suits against Google.

3/8/06: Update for Chap. 6 re abuses of the DMCA.

2/1/06: Presentation assignment for Chap. 6 re search engine practices and copyright.

1/27/06: Update for Chaps. 4 and 7 (same item) re risk of and fine for poor personal data security. Update for Chap. 7 re identity theft rates.

1/24/06: Presentation assignment for Chap. 2 re student networking Web sites.

1/22/06: Update for Chap. 10 re protecting sensitive data.

1/20/06: Update for Chap. 6 re sales of digital music.

11/23/05: Update for Chap. 9 re reducing the "digital divide."

11/9/05: Update for Chap. 4 re software problem in another radiation treatment machine.

9/28/05: Update for Chap. 6 re reducing sales of unauthorized music.

9/8/05: Update for Chap. 1 re old election laws preventing use of Web.

8/26/05: Update for Chap. 1 re lack of laws covering cell phone cameras.

8/19/05: Update for Chap. 2 re searching a computer without a search warrant. Comment on Exercise 3.9 re e-mail privacy protection; update for Chap. 3 on the same case (U.S. v. Councilman).

8/11/05: Update for Chap. 2 re RFID chips in license plates.

7/18/05: Update for Chap. 7 re conviction for Sasser worm.

6/28/05: Update for Chap. 6 re MGM v. Grokster.

6/8/05: Update for Chap. 4 re Denver Airport automated baggage system.

6/2/05: Updates for Chap. 7 re "insider" crimes and defenses for online scams.

5/24/05: Update for Chap. 1 re online sales data.

5/22/05: Presentation assignment for Chap. 2 on RFID chips expanded.

4/8/05: New final exam essay question.

3/19/05: Updates for Chap. 2 re CATV systems in England. Presentation assignment for Chap. 5 on blogs expanded.

3/17/05: Updates for Chap. 5 re 1st Amendment decision about real estate listings on the Web.

2/23/05: Updates for Chap. 2 re ID theft in hospitals and for Chap. 5 re prepaid cell phones.

2/10/05: Added term paper topic on use of computers and AI systems in the justice system.

1/20/05: Update for Chap. 3 re Carnivore.

1/3/05: New presentation assignment for Chap. 5 re blogs.

12/20/04: Update for Chap. 5 re arrest of head of India's eBay site.

12/20/04: Added term paper topic on use of communications technology at major pro-democracy protests.

12/16/04: New presentation assignment for Chap. 2 re cell phone cameras.

8/23/04: Update for Chap. 6 re Grokster and Morpheus decision.

7/23/04: New exam question for Chap. 2.

7/15/04: Comment on Exercise 3.9 re e-mail privacy protection. Update for Chap. 1 re swimming pool safety system.

7/8/04: Added term paper topic on blogs.

7/6/04: Updates for Chap. 4 re climate models and for Chap. 5 re COPA.

5/12/04: Update for Chap. 3 re CALEA.

5/9/04: Added a book to the book list.

5/5/04: Update for Chap. 9 re 640K statement often attributed to Bill Gates.

4/4/04: New link on the Resources page for discussion of PATRIOT Act provisions.

3/22/04: Revised term paper topic on spam.

3/18/04: Update for Chap. 9 re Internet access from homes.

3/17/04: Added term paper topics.

3/11/04: Update for Chap. 2 and Chap. 3 (same item) re use of encryption to protect privacy while searching databases for terrorist suspects.

3/10/04: Update for Chap. 2 re Privacy Act lawsuits.

3/3/04: Update for Chap. 6 re a DeCSS case. Update for Chap. 1 re customer satisfaction with e-commerce.

2/22/04: New link on the Resources page for Chap. 2, a GAO report on CAPPS II.

1/15/04: Update for Chap. 6 re suit about possession of smart card technology. New link on the Resources page for Chap. 9, an article on use of the Web for political organizing.

12/30/03: New term paper topic and final exam essay question.

11/12/03: Update for Chap. 5.

10/28/03: Updates for Chap. 1 and Chap. 5

10/16/03: Added to a presentation assignment for Chap. 2.

9/1/03: Updates of details re DeCSS cases, for Chap. 6.

8/26/03: Update for Chap. 6 (re DVDCCA v. Bunner).

8/21/03: Update for Chap. 2 (re Tampa face-recognition system).

8/16/03: Updates for Chap. 4 and Chap. 6 (same item re UCITA).

8/2/03: Added a link on the Resources page for Chapter 6 re linking to copyrighted material.

8/1/03: New presentation assignment for Chap. 2.

7/8/03: Added links on the Resources page for new reports on video surveillance (Chapter 2).

7/4/03: Power Point slides to accompany the text.

7/1/03: Update for Chap. 5 (about California Supreme Court ruling on Intel v. Hamidi). Updated presentation assignment based on this case.

6/25/03: Update for Chap. 5 (about Supreme Court ruling on CIPA).

5/12/03: Update for Chap. 4. Added a link on the Resources page for Chapter 2.

4/28/03: Update for Chap. 6.

4/25/03: Update for Chap. 4. New presentation assignment for Chap. 4.

4/18/03: Update for Chap. 6.

4/16/03: Added a link on the Resources page. New presentation assignment for Chap. 9.

4/7/03: Removed broken link on "Assignments, Exams, and Exercises" page; repaired broken link in term paper assignment.

3/22/03: New presentation assignment for Chap. 9.

3/18/03: Added a link on the Resources page.

3/10/03: Update for Chap. 5.

3/6/03: Added a link to the April, 2003 Computers, Freedom, and Privacy Conference on the Resources page.

2/28/03: Update for Chap. 2. New presentation assignment for Chap. 4. Added a link on the Resources page.

2/27/03: Update for Chap. 4. New presentation assignment for Chap. 9.

1/23/03: Update for Chap. 7.

1/14/03: New term paper topic. New presentation assignment for Chap. 10. Update for Chap. 2.

1/9/03: Update for Chap. 6.

1/7/03: Removed link to Web site for the 1st edition of the book.

1/2/03: Added a book to the book list.

12/19/02: Update for Chap. 2.

12/18/02: Update for Chap. 6.

12/17/02: New term paper topic. Update for Chap. 6.

12/16/02: Updates for Chap. 4 and Chap. 5.

11/12/02: New presentation assignment for Chap. 7.

11/5/02: Update for Chap. 5.

11/2/02: Update for Chap. 5 and new exam question for Chap. 2.

10/27/02: Update for Chap. 4.

10/22/02: Corrected a few "broken" links (on the Resources page).

10/17/02: Corrections to attribution of Prometheus statue that appears on the book's cover (home page).

10/6/02: Added a book to the book list.

Aug. 2002: Added presentation assignments for Chaps. 2, 5, and 9; updates for Chaps. 2 and 5; links on the Resources page; description of the Prometheus myth; a term paper topic; and an exam essay question.

July, 2002: Entire site revised and updated for the new edition of A Gift of Fire. Exams and quiz questions, presentation assignments, updates, and comments on exercises added.

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