IP: Getting the Facts Out - Announcing "FACT SQUAD"

[David Farber <dave@farber.net>]

{ I am a member of the PFIR Board djf}

>                 Getting the Facts Out - Announcing "FACT SQUAD"
>
>                                September 6, 2001
>
>                     http://www.pfir.org/factsquad-announce
>
>
>Greetings.  Immediately following the recent People For Internet
>Responsibility "Future of the Internet" Workshop, technology columnist
>Dan Gillmor reported on the event within his widely-read column.
>
>He especially noted one of the key points of agreement at the meeting --
>there's a serious need for coordinated information sources and experts to
>counter the often skewed information provided by lobbyists and other vested
>interests relating to technology issues.  As it stands, it's usually those
>well-heeled interests who have successfully organized, for their own
>betterment, to provide information about technical matters to media,
>politicians, and many others.
>
>Dan used the term "fact squad" to describe the need for a coordinated effort
>to provide some balance in these matters.
>
>PFIR has now set up a structure that we hope can provide assistance in
>filling this fact gap.  We've created "Fact Squad" -- its home page,
>which describes the project in more detail, is at:
>
>    http://www.factsquad.org
>
>Fact Squad is oriented specifically towards folks who need straightforward,
>direct, and largely "jargon-free" information about these topics.  It is a
>coordinated resource for media, researchers, or anyone else -- cutting
>through the hype and getting to the facts.
>
>Fact Squad by itself obviously cannot be the complete solution to the
>long-festering and worsening problems of manipulated information and
>propaganda relating to technical issues and their impact on society.
>But we think it's potentially an important step in the right direction.
>
>In addition to the Fact Squad home page listed above, three new contact
>e-mail addresses have been established relating to this effort:
>
>  - Questions or information about specific topics or issues:
>
>       facts@factsquad.org
>
>  - General inquiries:
>
>       general@factsquad.org
>
>  - Information about participating in Fact Squad:
>
>       participate@factsquad.org
>
>
>We look forward to your questions, comments, and participation.
>
>Thanks very much.
>
>
>Lauren Weinstein
>lauren@pfir.org or lauren@vortex.com or lauren@privacyforum.org
>Tel: +1 (818) 225-2800
>Co-Founder, PFIR - People For Internet Responsibility - http://www.pfir.org
>Moderator, PRIVACY Forum - http://www.vortex.com
>Member, ACM Committee on Computers and Public Policy
>
>Peter G. Neumann
>neumann@pfir.org or neumann@csl.sri.com or neumann@risks.org
>Tel: +1 (650) 859-2375
>Co-Founder, PFIR - People For Internet Responsibility - http://www.pfir.org
>Moderator, RISKS Forum - http://catless.ncl.ac.uk/Risks
>Chairman, ACM Committee on Computers and Public Policy
>http://www.csl.sri.com/neumann



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