'The Logic of Networks' behind 'Net war on Terror'

'The Logic of Networks' behind 'Net war on Terror'http://hema-mass-comm.blog.co.uk/en-EUhourly82000-01-01T12:00+00:00'The Logic of Networks' behind 'Net war on Terror'http://hema-mass-comm.blog.co.uk/http://data5.blog.de/design/preview/e2/d438f5de53cbc2d8691dff22a11e46_160x200.jpgAbstracthttp://hema-mass-comm.blog.co.uk/2007/05/22/abstract~2311765/2007-05-22T01:35:45+02:00 A voyage into the virtual dimension proposed by Manuel Castells helps to decode the complexity of the logic of networks and extends our understanding of the networks which seem to pervade our lives such that we feel we are one of the ‘nodes’ in the construct of an important network! The network logic of digital information systems contributes to a major cultural shift forming what Castells calls the networked society.The Internet has helped to the discovery of unlimited examples of industries, leisure pursuits, products and services, E-businesses, cultural exchanges using the web for connectivity. The diversity and amalgam of the use of the digitised communications and the flows of information via the net contributes to further enhance our understanding of the logic of networks. Analysing in depth how internet is used as an engine to spread terror and how legal authorities set to hunt these terror dealers on the virtual ground, the endeavour has been to decipher in greater depth the concepts of the logic of networks as demystified by Castells. The use of the web-generated blog extends further our understanding of using the digital networks and absorbing into the ‘real virtuality’ that Castells is so fond of elucidating! Table of contents: • Introduction • Looking through the maze of networks... • The two sides of the coin! • Terror Online! • Cyber-police of Networks? • The ‘Dark Web Project’ • Conclusion • References <a href="http://hema-mass-comm.blog.co.uk/2007/05/22/abstract~2311765/#comments">Comments</a> A voyage into the virtual dimension proposed by Manuel Castells helps to decode the complexity of the logic of networks and extends our understanding of the networks which seem to pervade our lives such that we feel we are one of the ‘nodes’ in the construct of an important network! The network logic of digital information systems contributes to a major cultural shift forming what Castells calls the networked society.The Internet has helped to the discovery of unlimited examples of industries, leisure pursuits, products and services, E-businesses, cultural exchanges using the web for connectivity. The diversity and amalgam of the use of the digitised communications and the flows of information via the net contributes to further enhance our understanding of the logic of networks. Analysing in depth how internet is used as an engine to spread terror and how legal authorities set to hunt these terror dealers on the virtual ground, the endeavour has been to decipher in greater depth the concepts of the logic of networks as demystified by Castells. The use of the web-generated blog extends further our understanding of using the digital networks and absorbing into the ‘real virtuality’ that Castells is so fond of elucidating!

Table of contents:
• Introduction
• Looking through the maze of networks...
• The two sides of the coin!
• Terror Online!
• Cyber-police of Networks?
• The ‘Dark Web Project’
• Conclusion
• References

Comments

]]>Introductionhttp://hema-mass-comm.blog.co.uk/2007/05/22/introduction~2311762/2007-05-22T01:35:09+02:00 We happen to live those moments in the history of mankind when the world has stopped being amazed by scientific inventions marking the 1800s. Digitisation is becoming more the heart and the essential mechanic of all technological innovations. The more innovative items humanity is gifted everyday the more readily it expects additional gadgets. Because we have bargaining power, we feel we deserve to be spoilt constantly by more technological inventions to suit our caprices and our change-adept requirements. Geared and dictated with such mentality and trends of production, our age is marked by the transition from the industrial era to the informational era. Today the flow of information defines economic productivity. Digitisation technology determines new trends and cultures so profusely that it is hard to ignore or deny its influences, impacts and effects on our thoughts, actions and habits. Furthermore, the world is shrinking into a global village due to determining factors like globalisation, worldwide rise in literacy and economic outbursts. All these factors influence people such that new cultures and ways of life are gradually taking over old systems. The epitome of this novelty rests on the basis that people are no more thrown away into oblivion due to distances that arise because of space and time. Advanced communication technologies seem to have twisted our original understanding of space and time, considering how distances matter very little in transactions and diverse tasks are done very speedily with connecting networks. People are able to connect with one another through a range of networks determined by latest technologies. Previously the connectedness among people, cultures, social groups, countries did exist but not as profound and as prolific as it is today. “While the networking form of social organisation has existed in other times and spaces, the new information technology paradigm provides the basis for its pervasive expansion throughout the entire social structure.” (Castells-vol. 1) The effectiveness of networks has led to further improve network based technologies such as the Internet to promote and maximise on the networking culture of inter-connectedness. If the Internet opens up the world by enabling the flows of information so profusely it is worth assessing the risks of such freedom in dealings possible on the web notably ‘terrorism online’, an evil we have to live with in this informational age! <a href="http://hema-mass-comm.blog.co.uk/2007/05/22/introduction~2311762/#comments">Comments</a> We happen to live those moments in the history of mankind when the world has stopped being amazed by scientific inventions marking the 1800s. Digitisation is becoming more the heart and the essential mechanic of all technological innovations. The more innovative items humanity is gifted everyday the more readily it expects additional gadgets. Because we have bargaining power, we feel we deserve to be spoilt constantly by more technological inventions to suit our caprices and our change-adept requirements. Geared and dictated with such mentality and trends of production, our age is marked by the transition from the industrial era to the informational era. Today the flow of information defines economic productivity. Digitisation technology determines new trends and cultures so profusely that it is hard to ignore or deny its influences, impacts and effects on our thoughts, actions and habits. Furthermore, the world is shrinking into a global village due to determining factors like globalisation, worldwide rise in literacy and economic outbursts. All these factors influence people such that new cultures and ways of life are gradually taking over old systems. The epitome of this novelty rests on the basis that people are no more thrown away into oblivion due to distances that arise because of space and time. Advanced communication technologies seem to have twisted our original understanding of space and time, considering how distances matter very little in transactions and diverse tasks are done very speedily with connecting networks. People are able to connect with one another through a range of networks determined by latest technologies. Previously the connectedness among people, cultures, social groups, countries did exist but not as profound and as prolific as it is today. “While the networking form of social organisation has existed in other times and spaces, the new information technology paradigm provides the basis for its pervasive expansion throughout the entire social structure.” (Castells-vol. 1)
The effectiveness of networks has led to further improve network based technologies such as the Internet to promote and maximise on the networking culture of inter-connectedness. If the Internet opens up the world by enabling the flows of information so profusely it is worth assessing the risks of such freedom in dealings possible on the web notably ‘terrorism online’, an evil we have to live with in this informational age!

Comments

]]>Looking through the maze of networks..http://hema-mass-comm.blog.co.uk/2007/05/22/looking_through_the_maze_of_networks~2311760/2007-05-22T01:34:34+02:00 Before, at all, analysing the logic of networks on ‘Terror Online’ in more depth, it is imperative to understand the complexity of networks! To have a clearer insight of what ‘networks’ are all about it is interesting to draw a parallel understanding of the spider web. As the spider web is interlaced with one main thread to create one large stretch of net and each binding point can lead to any other point on the spider web, the network is constructed in the same mode of inter-connectedness by nodes similar to the binding points of the spider web. Each node of the network is away from another node of the same network with an incredibly short distance compared to two nodes which cannot experience the speed of flows and reduced distances if they do not form part of the network. The networks which Castells exposes are open structures able to expand without limits which are flexible to engulfing into the system new and unlimited nodes to strengthen the existing networks. Castells sees the contemporary society as a network society. This network society is born out of communication and information technologies and “both are a necessary condition for, and inextractable dimension of that society, and pose complex results and challenges” (Castells, 2000) The system is enriched because of its flexible capacity of incorporating in its servers any information a user wants to add or share on the net… hence adding up additional nodes of connectivity as explained by Castells. The network logic can further become clearer if one is able to understand the flow of information on the Internet which is a mega network of several networks connecting with digital nodes. It’s as simple if not as complex as information is linked with another set of information on any web search we do on the net! The fast diffusing and pervasive internet culture is a genuine example of what Castells sees as “the new social morphology of our societies” and the worldwide diffusion of the ‘networking logic’ affect the modes of operation and the resulting outcomes in areas as diverse as production, experience, power and culture. This diffusion of network is the outcome of a set of influencing factors ranging from cultural and social changes in the behavioural patterns, economic developments, scientific and technological developments and the forceful nature of globalisation. <a href="http://hema-mass-comm.blog.co.uk/2007/05/22/looking_through_the_maze_of_networks~2311760/#comments">Comments</a> Before, at all, analysing the logic of networks on ‘Terror Online’ in more depth, it is imperative to understand the complexity of networks! To have a clearer insight of what ‘networks’ are all about it is interesting to draw a parallel understanding of the spider web. As the spider web is interlaced with one main thread to create one large stretch of net and each binding point can lead to any other point on the spider web, the network is constructed in the same mode of inter-connectedness by nodes similar to the binding points of the spider web. Each node of the network is away from another node of the same network with an incredibly short distance compared to two nodes which cannot experience the speed of flows and reduced distances if they do not form part of the network. The networks which Castells exposes are open structures able to expand without limits which are flexible to engulfing into the system new and unlimited nodes to strengthen the existing networks. Castells sees the contemporary society as a network society. This network society is born out of communication and information technologies and “both are a necessary condition for, and inextractable dimension of that society, and pose complex results and challenges” (Castells, 2000) The system is enriched because of its flexible capacity of incorporating in its servers any information a user wants to add or share on the net… hence adding up additional nodes of connectivity as explained by Castells.
The network logic can further become clearer if one is able to understand the flow of information on the Internet which is a mega network of several networks connecting with digital nodes. It’s as simple if not as complex as information is linked with another set of information on any web search we do on the net!
The fast diffusing and pervasive internet culture is a genuine example of what Castells sees as “the new social morphology of our societies” and the worldwide diffusion of the ‘networking logic’ affect the modes of operation and the resulting outcomes in areas as diverse as production, experience, power and culture. This diffusion of network is the outcome of a set of influencing factors ranging from cultural and social changes in the behavioural patterns, economic developments, scientific and technological developments and the forceful nature of globalisation.

Comments

]]>The two sides of the coin!http://hema-mass-comm.blog.co.uk/2007/05/22/the_two_sides_of_the_coin~2311758/2007-05-22T01:34:06+02:00 To construct the most solid pillar of network structures the digital technology is a major collaborative factor with its very hi-tech communication devices and its profusing internet technology. ‘The Internet is more than just a technology…it is a culture' (Castells) <a href="http://www.physorg.com/news93532699.html">http://www.physorg.com/news93532699.html</a> The pervasive culture of Internet has infiltrated into the systems of most countries of the world because of its adaptability in moulding to existing technologies and its easy mode of operation. The capability of opening multiple frontiers to worldwide connectivity through internet is certainly a boon to mankind. The crazy idea of the digital networking logic is that anyone in any part of the globe having access to a pc and internet connectivity can enter into this mega network of the worldwide web to get access to any choice of information source fed on the system. But as weird as it may seem all major developments and progress have had their stumbling blocks. The highly flexible nature of the Internet moulds perfectly to suit the user's desires and caprices. Internet can be used as expertly by people who are versed with unsocial and popularly undesirable doctrines and the resulting outcomes can have unmeasured magnitudes of potential threats for the whole human race! <a href="http://hema-mass-comm.blog.co.uk/2007/05/22/the_two_sides_of_the_coin~2311758/#comments">Comments</a> To construct the most solid pillar of network structures the digital technology is a major collaborative factor with its very hi-tech communication devices and its profusing internet technology. ‘The Internet is more than just a technology…it is a culture' (Castells) http://www.physorg.com/news93532699.html
The pervasive culture of Internet has infiltrated into the systems of most countries of the world because of its adaptability in moulding to existing technologies and its easy mode of operation. The capability of opening multiple frontiers to worldwide connectivity through internet is certainly a boon to mankind. The crazy idea of the digital networking logic is that anyone in any part of the globe having access to a pc and internet connectivity can enter into this mega network of the worldwide web to get access to any choice of information source fed on the system. But as weird as it may seem all major developments and progress have had their stumbling blocks. The highly flexible nature of the Internet moulds perfectly to suit the user's desires and caprices. Internet can be used as expertly by people who are versed with unsocial and popularly undesirable doctrines and the resulting outcomes can have unmeasured magnitudes of potential threats for the whole human race!

Comments

]]>Terror Online!http://hema-mass-comm.blog.co.uk/2007/05/22/terror_online~2311757/2007-05-22T01:33:36+02:00 “In the new historical landscape” of networks, we “find shining paths, dark abysses, and muddled breakthroughs into the new society emerging from current crises.” (Castells, vol. 2). “The Internet has become a forum for terrorist groups and individual terrorists both to spread their messages of hate and violence and to communicate with one another and with sympathizers.” (Terrorism Update), <a href="http://www.adl.org/terror/focus/16_focus_a.asp">http://www.adl.org/terror/focus/16_focus_a.asp</a> “The flexible connections of these criminal activities in international networks constitute an essential feature of the new global economy…of the Information Age.” (Castells, vol.3) The web is designed with such a user-friendly technology that it has become an operative ground for terrorists. At the Centre for Defence Information (CDI) we can investigate on terrorist networks operating by making the World Wide Web their mating grounds. (TerroristNetworks),http://www.cdi.org/program/issue/index.cfm?StartRow=41&ListRows=10&Orderby=DateLastUpdated&ProgramID=39&issueID=56___##0##___ The lurking dangers come from cyber-criminals who are able to operate safely amid the huge crowd of internet users. “Strategists and policymakers in Washington and elsewhere have begun to discern the dark side of the network phenomenon - especially in the wake of the "attack on America" perpetrated apparently by Osama bin Laden's terror network. But they still have much work to do to begin harnessing the bright side, by formulating strategies that will enable state and civil-society actors to work together better.”(Robert Paterson, 2003). The deep dynamic guiding Patterson’s analysis is that the information revolution favours the rise of the network forms of organisation. “The network appears to be the next major form of organisation- long after tribes, hierarchies and markets- to come into its own to redefine societies, and in so doing, the nature of conflict and cooperation.” Discussing further in Castells’ line of argument about nodes Patterson speculates that because every node of the networking system connects so readily, the implications are that more conflicts can be waged by pervasive ‘networks’. The heck of it is that ‘whoever masters the network forms stands to gain the advantage.’ ‘Electronic democracy’, ‘network corporations’, ‘global civil society’ and even ‘network-centric warfare’ are logical outcomes of networks but the dark side of networking system has to do with “malcontents, ne’er-do-wells, and clever opportunists, all eager to take advantage of new ways to manoeuvre, exploit, and dominate”(Patterson) within the virtual dimensions of networks. New risks and dangers resulting from networking systems are sure to generate threats to our precious freedom and privacy. (Robert Paterson, 2003), <a href="http://radio.weblogs.com/0107127/stories/2002/09/10/networksAndNetwar.html">http://radio.weblogs.com/0107127/stories/2002/09/10/networksAndNetwar.html</a> The connectivity of additional and unlimited nodes is so amazingly possible within the Internet that it becomes so convenient for terrorists worldwide to modify their structures and strategies to operate with stronger moves on existing networks and related communication technologies. The danger seems to crop up because of the fact that once any information is clipped on the net it belongs to the user or reader who can in turn manipulate or use it for his own ends. <a href="http://hema-mass-comm.blog.co.uk/2007/05/22/terror_online~2311757/#comments">Comments</a> “In the new historical landscape” of networks, we “find shining paths, dark abysses, and muddled breakthroughs into the new society emerging from current crises.” (Castells, vol. 2). “The Internet has become a forum for terrorist groups and individual terrorists both to spread their messages of hate and violence and to communicate with one another and with sympathizers.”
(Terrorism Update), http://www.adl.org/terror/focus/16_focus_a.asp
“The flexible connections of these criminal activities in international networks constitute an essential feature of the new global economy…of the Information Age.” (Castells, vol.3) The web is designed with such a user-friendly technology that it has become an operative ground for terrorists.
At the Centre for Defence Information (CDI) we can investigate on terrorist networks operating by making the World Wide Web their mating grounds.
(TerroristNetworks),http://www.cdi.org/program/issue/index.cfm?StartRow=41&ListRows=10&Orderby=DateLastUpdated&ProgramID=39&issueID=56___##0##___ The lurking dangers come from cyber-criminals who are able to operate safely amid the huge crowd of internet users. “Strategists and policymakers in Washington and elsewhere have begun to discern the dark side of the network phenomenon - especially in the wake of the "attack on America" perpetrated apparently by Osama bin Laden's terror network. But they still have much work to do to begin harnessing the bright side, by formulating strategies that will enable state and civil-society actors to work together better.”(Robert Paterson, 2003).
The deep dynamic guiding Patterson’s analysis is that the information revolution favours the rise of the network forms of organisation. “The network appears to be the next major form of organisation- long after tribes, hierarchies and markets- to come into its own to redefine societies, and in so doing, the nature of conflict and cooperation.” Discussing further in Castells’ line of argument about nodes Patterson speculates that because every node of the networking system connects so readily, the implications are that more conflicts can be waged by pervasive ‘networks’. The heck of it is that ‘whoever masters the network forms stands to gain the advantage.’
‘Electronic democracy’, ‘network corporations’, ‘global civil society’ and even ‘network-centric warfare’ are logical outcomes of networks but the dark side of networking system has to do with “malcontents, ne’er-do-wells, and clever opportunists, all eager to take advantage of new ways to manoeuvre, exploit, and dominate”(Patterson) within the virtual dimensions of networks. New risks and dangers resulting from networking systems are sure to generate threats to our precious freedom and privacy.
(Robert Paterson, 2003), http://radio.weblogs.com/0107127/stories/2002/09/10/networksAndNetwar.html
The connectivity of additional and unlimited nodes is so amazingly possible within the Internet that it becomes so convenient for terrorists worldwide to modify their structures and strategies to operate with stronger moves on existing networks and related communication technologies. The danger seems to crop up because of the fact that once any information is clipped on the net it belongs to the user or reader who can in turn manipulate or use it for his own ends.

Comments

]]>Cyber-police of Networks?http://hema-mass-comm.blog.co.uk/2007/05/22/cyber_police_of_networks~2311754/2007-05-22T01:33:01+02:00 If on one line the World Wide Web network is being used by ‘terror’ activists the heroes generated by the logic of networks are computer nerds and web engineers who crack the codes of what techniques to design further to find and weaken the powers of those who design ways and raise funds for mass destructions. One such research is the tracking of ill-doers online by ‘Cyber-detecting’ ‘digital fingerprints’ using the Morse code digital technology. “As people type messages on their computer keyboards and browse Web sites, they leave a trail of electronic fingerprints. Scientists are investigating those keystroke and mouse-use patterns to develop methods to strengthen security and reduce online fraud.” (Digital Fingerprints), <a href="http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20070113/bob9.asp">http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20070113/bob9.asp</a> It is worth considering the fact that the task is not easy because “Morse code "fist" analysis can easily be defeated by a software buffer that conforms the intervals between all types of strokes. Actual Morse buffers are already in regular use among ham operators.”Writeprints" can also be defeated. "Clickprints" aren't as easy to conceal, perhaps, but some clever software designer will devise a foil for them too.” <a href="http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20070113/bob9.asp">http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20070113/bob9.asp</a> “In the increasingly popular language of network theory, individuals are "nodes," and relationships and interactions form the "links" binding them together; by mapping those connections, network scientists try to expose patterns that might not otherwise be apparent. Researchers are applying newly devised algorithms to vast databases… Networks are by their very nature robust and resistant to attack.” (Keefe, 2006) <a href="http://www.tcf.org/list.asp?type=NC&pubid=1239">http://www.tcf.org/list.asp?type=NC&pubid=1239</a> During an international summit on Democracy, Terrorism and the Open Internet held in Madrid 2005, it was discussed if it was advisable to restrict or impede public access to the internet because of the possibility of abuse by terrorists. The panellists agreed that interfering with the democratic freedoms offered by the internet would probably damage democracy more than it would harm the terrorists, and that the internets positive effects in connecting people, for example far outweighed the possibility of abuse. The internet, in the words of one panellist, is a technology embedded with democratic values. The panel was coordinated with the Safe Democracy Foundation.” ( Ito & Ahtisaari, 2005),http://english.safe-democracy.org/keynotes/democracy-terrorism-and-the-internet.html The authorities, worldwide, are compelled to counterattack by waging a cyber-war against all malpractices on the net. The privacy previously enjoyed by net users is now threatened and it will become worse because there is an urgent need to legally control the potentially uncontrollable activities on the web undermining safety and welfare of the general public. Authorities have taken the oath to strengthen Internet security vulnerabilities to counterfeit criminal activities on the net as several terrorist events are reported to be funded through online credit card transactions according to CRS Report for congress. “The idea of terrorists surreptitiously hacking into a computer system to introduce a virus, steal sensitive information, deface or swamp a web site, or turn off a crucial public service seriously concerns computer security personnel around the world. High profile attacks—such as the denial-of-service(DOS) attacks against major e-commerce sites Yahoo! and eBay in 1999 or the ongoing “cyber-jihad” against Israeli and American websites being waged by Pakistani-based hackers in support of the Palestinian “al-Aqsa” Intifadah—continue to raise the spectre of cyber terrorism.” <a href="http://www.rand.org/pubs/monograph_reports/MR1382/MR1382.ch2.pdf">http://www.rand.org/pubs/monograph_reports/MR1382/MR1382.ch2.pdf</a> It is interesting to note at this point how the network logic is a new logic which characterises mainly by its ability to shift or link from one information to a wide number of other information that forms part of the network and how the hypertext structure of networked computing coerces and commands the World Wide Web. <a href="http://hema-mass-comm.blog.co.uk/2007/05/22/cyber_police_of_networks~2311754/#comments">Comments</a> If on one line the World Wide Web network is being used by ‘terror’ activists the heroes generated by the logic of networks are computer nerds and web engineers who crack the codes of what techniques to design further to find and weaken the powers of those who design ways and raise funds for mass destructions.
One such research is the tracking of ill-doers online by ‘Cyber-detecting’ ‘digital fingerprints’ using the Morse code digital technology. “As people type messages on their computer keyboards and browse Web sites, they leave a trail of electronic fingerprints. Scientists are investigating those keystroke and mouse-use patterns to develop methods to strengthen security and reduce online fraud.”
(Digital Fingerprints), http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20070113/bob9.asp
It is worth considering the fact that the task is not easy because “Morse code "fist" analysis can easily be defeated by a software buffer that conforms the intervals between all types of strokes. Actual Morse buffers are already in regular use among ham operators.”Writeprints" can also be defeated. "Clickprints" aren't as easy to conceal, perhaps, but some clever software designer will devise a foil for them too.” http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20070113/bob9.asp

“In the increasingly popular language of network theory, individuals are "nodes," and relationships and interactions form the "links" binding them together; by mapping those connections, network scientists try to expose patterns that might not otherwise be apparent. Researchers are applying newly devised algorithms to vast databases… Networks are by their very nature robust and resistant to attack.” (Keefe, 2006) http://www.tcf.org/list.asp?type=NC&pubid=1239

During an international summit on Democracy, Terrorism and the Open Internet held in Madrid 2005, it was discussed if it was advisable to restrict or impede public access to the internet because of the possibility of abuse by terrorists. The panellists agreed that interfering with the democratic freedoms offered by the internet would probably damage democracy more than it would harm the terrorists, and that the internets positive effects in connecting people, for example far outweighed the possibility of abuse. The internet, in the words of one panellist, is a technology embedded with democratic values. The panel was coordinated with the Safe Democracy Foundation.”
( Ito & Ahtisaari, 2005),http://english.safe-democracy.org/keynotes/democracy-terrorism-and-the-internet.html

The authorities, worldwide, are compelled to counterattack by waging a cyber-war against all malpractices on the net. The privacy previously enjoyed by net users is now threatened and it will become worse because there is an urgent need to legally control the potentially uncontrollable activities on the web undermining safety and welfare of the general public. Authorities have taken the oath to strengthen Internet security vulnerabilities to counterfeit criminal activities on the net as several terrorist events are reported to be funded through online credit card transactions according to CRS Report for congress.

“The idea of terrorists surreptitiously hacking into a computer system to introduce a virus, steal sensitive information, deface or swamp a web site, or turn off a crucial public service seriously concerns computer security personnel around the world. High profile attacks—such as the denial-of-service(DOS) attacks against major e-commerce sites Yahoo! and eBay in 1999 or the ongoing “cyber-jihad” against Israeli and American websites being waged by Pakistani-based hackers in support of the Palestinian “al-Aqsa” Intifadah—continue to raise the spectre of cyber terrorism.” http://www.rand.org/pubs/monograph_reports/MR1382/MR1382.ch2.pdf
It is interesting to note at this point how the network logic is a new logic which characterises mainly by its ability to shift or link from one information to a wide number of other information that forms part of the network and how the hypertext structure of networked computing coerces and commands the World Wide Web.

Comments

]]>The ‘ Dark Web Project’http://hema-mass-comm.blog.co.uk/2007/05/22/the_dark_web_project~2311753/2007-05-22T01:32:21+02:00 “In the rise of religious fundamentalism and of global terror networks” (Castells, 2000) the best policy would be to construct power weapons to combat evils that can jeopardise international peace and harmony. The battleground is a virtual platform where “all reality is virtually perceived.” (Castells, 2000) The logic of networks has given rise to intense scientific and technological research of ‘virtual’ weapons to confront and diminish global terrorist activities. The crucial role played by the militating computer scientist, Hsinchun Chen, is worth noticing as he is using artificial intelligence to "connect the dots" between terrorist groups in the complex networks where all reality is virtually perceived . High security measures in almost all developed countries and transportation hubs are reducing the spaces to shelter terrorists. But computer scientist Hsinchun Chen says they're chatting away in cyberspace. “The Web has been used by a lot of people hiding in the dark." He says that similar to colleges and universities offering courses online, terrorist organizations have found a whole new channel for their ideas. "Those terrorist movements have moved to the Internet, using the Internet to recruit new members, to train them, to educate them," Chen says. . Its database enlists a number of interesting articles highlighting further the powerful logic of networking in terrorists’ dealings on the net such as: Mining the Dark Web <a href="http://ai.eller.arizona.edu/recognition/ellerprogress.pdf">http://ai.eller.arizona.edu/recognition/ellerprogress.pdf</a> Scientists Probe ‘Dark Web’ to uncover potential Terrorist threats <a href="http://www.kvoa.com/Global/story.asp?S=5383979">http://www.kvoa.com/Global/story.asp?S=5383979</a> ‘Dark Web’ Team combing Internet to track Terrorism <a href="http://ai.bpa.arizona.edu/recognition/azrepublic.pdf">http://ai.bpa.arizona.edu/recognition/azrepublic.pdf</a> Extremist Social Movement Groups and their Online Digital Libraries <a href="http://ai.bpa.arizona.edu/recognition/informationoutlook.pdf">http://ai.bpa.arizona.edu/recognition/informationoutlook.pdf</a> It is interesting to note at this point how the network logic is a new logic which characterises mainly by its ability to shift or link from one information to a wide number of other information that forms part of the network and how the hypertext structure of networked computing coerces and commands the World Wide Web. <a href="http://hema-mass-comm.blog.co.uk/2007/05/22/the_dark_web_project~2311753/#comments">Comments</a> “In the rise of religious fundamentalism and of global terror networks” (Castells, 2000) the best policy would be to construct power weapons to combat evils that can jeopardise international peace and harmony. The battleground is a virtual platform where “all reality is virtually perceived.” (Castells, 2000) The logic of networks has given rise to intense scientific and technological research of ‘virtual’ weapons to confront and diminish global terrorist activities. The crucial role played by the militating computer scientist, Hsinchun Chen, is worth noticing as he is using artificial intelligence to "connect the dots" between terrorist groups in the complex networks where all reality is virtually perceived . High security measures in almost all developed countries and transportation hubs are reducing the spaces to shelter terrorists. But computer scientist Hsinchun Chen says they're chatting away in cyberspace. “The Web has been used by a lot of people hiding in the dark." He says that similar to colleges and universities offering courses online, terrorist organizations have found a whole new channel for their ideas. "Those terrorist movements have moved to the Internet, using the Internet to recruit new members, to train them, to educate them," Chen says. . Its database enlists a number of interesting articles highlighting further the powerful logic of networking in terrorists’ dealings on the net such as:
Mining the Dark Web http://ai.eller.arizona.edu/recognition/ellerprogress.pdf
Scientists Probe ‘Dark Web’ to uncover potential Terrorist threats
http://www.kvoa.com/Global/story.asp?S=5383979
‘Dark Web’ Team combing Internet to track Terrorism
http://ai.bpa.arizona.edu/recognition/azrepublic.pdf
Extremist Social Movement Groups and their Online Digital Libraries
http://ai.bpa.arizona.edu/recognition/informationoutlook.pdf

It is interesting to note at this point how the network logic is a new logic which characterises mainly by its ability to shift or link from one information to a wide number of other information that forms part of the network and how the hypertext structure of networked computing coerces and commands the World Wide Web.

Comments

]]>Conclusionhttp://hema-mass-comm.blog.co.uk/2007/05/22/conclusion~2311751/2007-05-22T01:31:17+02:00 Giving a brilliant insight of the logic of networks, Castells has contributed a lot in providing interesting literature on the pervasive nature of information technology in his highly reviewed and popular Trilogy. Manuel Castells has attempted to see through the complexity of the inter-connectivity marking our times and has come up with a sensible explanation of the networking society in which we live. The networking logic is generating a new culture and perception of our surroundings and beliefs enabling in the flow a gradual erosion of old values and customs which held importance before the pervasion of the information age. As Castells speculates on the ‘Self’ and the ‘Net’, “New social formations emerge around primary identities, which may be sexual, religious, ethnic, territorial or national in focus.” (Stalder, 1998) In this interplay of the Net and the Self (symbolising the activities through which people try to reaffirm their identities), ‘Terror Online’ and the resurgent motivation of waging online war against terrorists online seems to mark the New Information Age where we have to interact as one of the nodes of the networks! News such as-“The online posting on Aug. 30 sounded like the rantings of a crank: The subject was "911," and it warned "Something is going to happen tomorrow . . . REPENT!" Schwartz, J, (2001)-can be recurrent features haunting us online. The internet user seems to have acquired a modern tool or weapon in the form of the networking logic, to manipulate and control dimensions which were formerly the reserve or right of certain individuals or authorities. There seems to be no formal or legal licence needed to come in control of information, or to add additional information to the network system. The logic of Networks and the Network paradigm have already set the ball rolling for an entirely new perspective and dimension of social interactions and human transactions where the flow of information defines economic productivity even more excessively than what it is today! <a href="http://hema-mass-comm.blog.co.uk/2007/05/22/conclusion~2311751/#comments">Comments</a> Giving a brilliant insight of the logic of networks, Castells has contributed a lot in providing interesting literature on the pervasive nature of information technology in his highly reviewed and popular Trilogy. Manuel Castells has attempted to see through the complexity of the inter-connectivity marking our times and has come up with a sensible explanation of the networking society in which we live. The networking logic is generating a new culture and perception of our surroundings and beliefs enabling in the flow a gradual erosion of old values and customs which held importance before the pervasion of the information age. As Castells speculates on the ‘Self’ and the ‘Net’, “New social formations emerge around primary identities, which may be sexual, religious, ethnic, territorial or national in focus.” (Stalder, 1998) In this interplay of the Net and the Self (symbolising the activities through which people try to reaffirm their identities), ‘Terror Online’ and the resurgent motivation of waging online war against terrorists online seems to mark the New Information Age where we have to interact as one of the nodes of the networks!
News such as-“The online posting on Aug. 30 sounded like the rantings of a crank: The subject was "911," and it warned "Something is going to happen tomorrow . . . REPENT!" Schwartz, J, (2001)-can be recurrent features haunting us online. The internet user seems to have acquired a modern tool or weapon in the form of the networking logic, to manipulate and control dimensions which were formerly the reserve or right of certain individuals or authorities. There seems to be no formal or legal licence needed to come in control of information, or to add additional information to the network system.
The logic of Networks and the Network paradigm have already set the ball rolling for an entirely new perspective and dimension of social interactions and human transactions where the flow of information defines economic productivity even more excessively than what it is today!

Comments

]]>Referenceshttp://hema-mass-comm.blog.co.uk/2007/05/22/references~2311748/2007-05-22T01:30:52+02:00 • Anti-defamatory Online homepage, “Terrorist activities on the Internet”, Terrorism Update, viewed 23.03.07, <a href="http://www.adl.org/terror/focus/16_focus_a.asp">http://www.adl.org/terror/focus/16_focus_a.asp</a> • Castells Manuel,(vol.1), ‘The Rise of the Network Society’, 2nd edition, viewed 18.03.07 <a href="http://books.google.com.my/books?id=hngg4aFtJVcC&dq=rise+in+the+network+society&pg=PA1&ots=N81jxoSAC3&sig=lxwexpug_27cUMsTrJadII22Tx8&prev=http://www.google.com.my/search%3Fhl%3Den%26q%3Drise%2Bin%2Bthe%2Bnetwork%2Bsociety%26btnG%3DSearch%26meta%3D&sa=X&oi=print&ct=result&cd=1#PPP1,M1">http://books.google.com.my/books?id=hngg4aFtJVcC&dq=rise+in+the+network+society&pg=PA1&ots=N81jxoSAC3&sig=lxwexpug_27cUMsTrJadII22Tx8&prev=http://www.google.com.my/search%3Fhl%3Den%26q%3Drise%2Bin%2Bthe%2Bnetwork%2Bsociety%26btnG%3DSearch%26meta%3D&sa=X&oi=print&ct=result&cd=1#PPP1,M1</a> • Castells Manuel,(vol.2), “The power of identity”,2nd edition, viewed 18.03.07 <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=MgAqE2DCDfYC&pg=PR16&ots=IqACgkVQ-3&dq=castells+trilogy&sig=Qa4i5ham-Z2V96rAd_NX4YJgyf4#PPR8,M1">http://books.google.com/books?id=MgAqE2DCDfYC&pg=PR16&ots=IqACgkVQ-3&dq=castells+trilogy&sig=Qa4i5ham-Z2V96rAd_NX4YJgyf4#PPR8,M1</a> • Castells Manuel, (vol.3),“End of the Millennium” 2nd edition, viewed 18.03.07 <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=1s4U8t7_GMEC&pg=PP2&ots=TCIdwFMdSi&dq=castells+trilogy&sig=1B52DDExm7SlTuY6TkOby6biIus">http://books.google.com/books?id=1s4U8t7_GMEC&pg=PP2&ots=TCIdwFMdSi&dq=castells+trilogy&sig=1B52DDExm7SlTuY6TkOby6biIus</a> • Castells Manuel, (1996), “The Rise of the network society, Oxford, Blackwell, Vol. 1of “the information age” economy, society and culture, pp.376-386: “The space of Flows” • Castells Manuel, (2001), “The culture Of the Internet”, The Internet Galaxy: reflections on the Internet, business and society, Oxford, Blackwell, pp. 36-63. • Castells Manuel (2000) “The contours of the Network society”, Journal: Foresight, Volume 2 Number 2, MCB UP Ltd. • Castells Manuel (2006) “Communication, Power and counter-power in the Network Society”, International Journal of Communication 1, pp 238-266. • Carnoy M, Castells M (1999), “Globalisation, The Knowledge Society, and the Network Society: Poulantzas at the Millenium.”, viewed 03.05.07, <a href="http://www.chet.org.za/oldsite/castells/poulantzas.html">http://www.chet.org.za/oldsite/castells/poulantzas.html</a> • Carey,J. (1989), “Space, Time and Communications”, Communication a Culture: Essays on Media and Society, London, Routledge, pp.142-172 • Dijk V, “The One-dimensional Network Society of Manuel Castells”, viewed 22.03.07http://www.thechronicle.demon.co.uk/archive/castells.htm___##1##___ • Ito J, Ahtisaari M, (2005), “Democracy, Terrorism and the Internet”, <a href="http://english.safe-democracy.org/keynotes/democracy-terrorism-and-the-internet.html">http://english.safe-democracy.org/keynotes/democracy-terrorism-and-the-internet.html</a> • Keefe, (2006), “Can Network Theory Thwart Terrorists?”, viewed 18.03.07 <a href="http://www.tcf.org/list.asp?type=NC&pubid=1239">http://www.tcf.org/list.asp?type=NC&pubid=1239</a> • Kellner D (n.d), “Globalisation, Terrorism, and Democrac: 9/11 and its aftermath” viewed 01.05.07, <a href="http://www.gseis.ucla.edu/faculty/kellner/">http://www.gseis.ucla.edu/faculty/kellner/</a> • “Making the nations safer: The Role of Science and Tech. in Countering Terrorism” (2002), viewed 01.05.07, <a href="http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=10415&page=267">http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=10415&page=267</a> • Robert Paterson, 2003), “Networks and Netwar.”, viewed 21.03.07 <a href="http://radio.weblogs.com/0107127/stories/2002/09/10/networksAndNetwar.html">http://radio.weblogs.com/0107127/stories/2002/09/10/networksAndNetwar.html</a> • Scott P, (2001), “Manuel Castells and the Information Age”, viewed 21.03.07 <a href="http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/avp/soe/cihe/newsletter/News25/text003.htm">http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/avp/soe/cihe/newsletter/News25/text003.htm</a> • Schwartz, J, (2001), “Scouring the Internet in Search of the Tracks of Terrorists”, viewed22.03.07,http://www.criminology.fsu.edu/transcrime/articles/Scouring%20the%20Internet%20in%20Search%20of%20the%20Tracks%20of%20Terrorists.htm___##1##___ • Stalder F, (1998), “The Network Paradigm: Social Formations in the Age of Information”, viewed 01.05.07, <a href="http://felix.openflows.com/html/netparadigm.html">http://felix.openflows.com/html/netparadigm.html</a> • The Sunday Tribune, (n.d) “Why Internet is a global changer?”, viewed 03.05.07, <a href="http://www.tribuneindia.com/2000/20000611/spectrum/books.htm#4">http://www.tribuneindia.com/2000/20000611/spectrum/books.htm#4</a> • Welsh G, (1996), “A review of Manuel Castells ‘The Informational City’ ”, viewed 01.05.07, <a href="http://www.chet.org.za/castells_review.html">http://www.chet.org.za/castells_review.html</a> <a href="http://hema-mass-comm.blog.co.uk/2007/05/22/references~2311748/#comments">Comments</a> • Anti-defamatory Online homepage, “Terrorist activities on the Internet”, Terrorism Update, viewed 23.03.07, http://www.adl.org/terror/focus/16_focus_a.asp
• Castells Manuel,(vol.1), ‘The Rise of the Network Society’, 2nd edition, viewed 18.03.07
http://books.google.com.my/books?id=hngg4aFtJVcC&dq=rise+in+the+network+society&pg=PA1&ots=N81jxoSAC3&sig=lxwexpug_27cUMsTrJadII22Tx8&prev=http://www.google.com.my/search%3Fhl%3Den%26q%3Drise%2Bin%2Bthe%2Bnetwork%2Bsociety%26btnG%3DSearch%26meta%3D&sa=X&oi=print&ct=result&cd=1#PPP1,M1
• Castells Manuel,(vol.2), “The power of identity”,2nd edition, viewed 18.03.07
http://books.google.com/books?id=MgAqE2DCDfYC&pg=PR16&ots=IqACgkVQ-3&dq=castells+trilogy&sig=Qa4i5ham-Z2V96rAd_NX4YJgyf4#PPR8,M1
• Castells Manuel, (vol.3),“End of the Millennium” 2nd edition, viewed 18.03.07
http://books.google.com/books?id=1s4U8t7_GMEC&pg=PP2&ots=TCIdwFMdSi&dq=castells+trilogy&sig=1B52DDExm7SlTuY6TkOby6biIus
• Castells Manuel, (1996), “The Rise of the network society, Oxford, Blackwell, Vol. 1of “the information age” economy, society and culture, pp.376-386: “The space of Flows”
• Castells Manuel, (2001), “The culture Of the Internet”, The Internet Galaxy: reflections on the Internet, business and society, Oxford, Blackwell, pp. 36-63.
• Castells Manuel (2000) “The contours of the Network society”, Journal: Foresight, Volume 2 Number 2, MCB UP Ltd.
• Castells Manuel (2006) “Communication, Power and counter-power in the Network Society”, International Journal of Communication 1, pp 238-266.
• Carnoy M, Castells M (1999), “Globalisation, The Knowledge Society, and the Network Society: Poulantzas at the Millenium.”, viewed 03.05.07, http://www.chet.org.za/oldsite/castells/poulantzas.html
• Carey,J. (1989), “Space, Time and Communications”, Communication a Culture: Essays on Media and Society, London, Routledge, pp.142-172
• Dijk V, “The One-dimensional Network Society of Manuel Castells”, viewed 22.03.07http://www.thechronicle.demon.co.uk/archive/castells.htm___##1##___ • Ito J, Ahtisaari M, (2005), “Democracy, Terrorism and the Internet”,
http://english.safe-democracy.org/keynotes/democracy-terrorism-and-the-internet.html
• Keefe, (2006), “Can Network Theory Thwart Terrorists?”, viewed 18.03.07
http://www.tcf.org/list.asp?type=NC&pubid=1239
• Kellner D (n.d), “Globalisation, Terrorism, and Democrac: 9/11 and its aftermath” viewed 01.05.07, http://www.gseis.ucla.edu/faculty/kellner/
• “Making the nations safer: The Role of Science and Tech. in Countering Terrorism” (2002), viewed 01.05.07, http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=10415&page=267
• Robert Paterson, 2003), “Networks and Netwar.”, viewed 21.03.07
http://radio.weblogs.com/0107127/stories/2002/09/10/networksAndNetwar.html
• Scott P, (2001), “Manuel Castells and the Information Age”, viewed 21.03.07
http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/avp/soe/cihe/newsletter/News25/text003.htm
• Schwartz, J, (2001), “Scouring the Internet in Search of the Tracks of Terrorists”, viewed22.03.07,http://www.criminology.fsu.edu/transcrime/articles/Scouring%20the%20Internet%20in%20Search%20of%20the%20Tracks%20of%20Terrorists.htm___##1##___ • Stalder F, (1998), “The Network Paradigm: Social Formations in the Age of Information”, viewed 01.05.07, http://felix.openflows.com/html/netparadigm.html
• The Sunday Tribune, (n.d) “Why Internet is a global changer?”, viewed 03.05.07, http://www.tribuneindia.com/2000/20000611/spectrum/books.htm#4
• Welsh G, (1996), “A review of Manuel Castells ‘The Informational City’ ”, viewed 01.05.07, http://www.chet.org.za/castells_review.html

Comments

]]>