Here's a link to an unfortunate story out of San Francisco: http://tinyurl.com/67up7d
Apparently a public library there runs an automated kids' storyline. Like a recorded answering machine message, where kids can call and choose from a list of recorded stories. Someone allegedly hacked into the system behind it and added a pornographic story about the sexual relationship between a dog and a pig.
The thing is, we're likely going to hear about this on various blogs in the library community, magazines like Library Journal, and maybe even the local news. Maybe I'm pessimistic, but I'm guessing most of what we hear is going to be how dangerous this technology is and how we have to protect our children.
Now, this is a terrible thing. But it should be kept in perspective. Libraries have always suffered from vandalism; naughty bits drawn in books, obscenities scrawled on walls and so on. The only thing that really makes this much different is that it was allegedly done by a computer hacker. Had the same story simply been written in the margins of a kids book, the media probably wouldn't have picked it up.
Technology certainly leaves open some security holes. What's new is that it takes a high level of technical skill to break these systems. The flip-side is that it also takes a high level of technical skill to understand what's gone wrong and fix the problem, which leaves many people scared of the situation. It's unfortunate all around.
Apparently a public library there runs an automated kids' storyline. Like a recorded answering machine message, where kids can call and choose from a list of recorded stories. Someone allegedly hacked into the system behind it and added a pornographic story about the sexual relationship between a dog and a pig.
The thing is, we're likely going to hear about this on various blogs in the library community, magazines like Library Journal, and maybe even the local news. Maybe I'm pessimistic, but I'm guessing most of what we hear is going to be how dangerous this technology is and how we have to protect our children.
Now, this is a terrible thing. But it should be kept in perspective. Libraries have always suffered from vandalism; naughty bits drawn in books, obscenities scrawled on walls and so on. The only thing that really makes this much different is that it was allegedly done by a computer hacker. Had the same story simply been written in the margins of a kids book, the media probably wouldn't have picked it up.
Technology certainly leaves open some security holes. What's new is that it takes a high level of technical skill to break these systems. The flip-side is that it also takes a high level of technical skill to understand what's gone wrong and fix the problem, which leaves many people scared of the situation. It's unfortunate all around.
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