A critical study of ISP filtering of child pornography

Information and communication technologies (ICT) are today the most used technologies for child pornography. In an attempt to reduce access to child pornography, some Internet Service Providers (ISP), in the United Kingdom, Norway and Sweden have introduced filtering systems which block access to web sites containing child pornography. The aim of this paper is to critically analyse whether the ISP filtering techniques is an effective approach to the problem with child pornography and ICT. The paper will present initial empirical findings consisting of court records, criminal investigation records and interviews with convicted offenders. This material provides information about the type of ICT that has been used for child pornography. The paper has applied critical information systems research, since this perspective is well suited to critically examine the technology used. In light of the empirical material this paper argues that although the ISP initiative to block access to child pornography is a step in the right direction, filtering is not a truly effective approach to this problem. Some identified flaws with the filtering approach will be presented. The results of this study are of great importance to both the critical IS research and professional communities, since the findings enhance the understanding of ICT and its social effects

Technological Effects on Victim Identification in Police Investigations of Child Abuse Material

The development and use of digital technologies have profound effects in society. One the one hand, the technologies can be used for illegal activities such as the production, distribution and possession of child abuse material. On the other hand, the technologies can be used as powerful and effective tools to combat and investigate these crimes. Child abuse material constitutes crime evidence portraying serious and harmful crimes against children. Law enforcement should therefore focus their efforts on identifying both the offender and the victim involved in the creation of the material. Traditionally law enforcement agencies have focused their efforts on the offenders that have been in focus for identification, prosecution and often also for rehabilitation. Thus, law enforcement has devoted resources towards convictions for the distribution and possession of child abuse material rather than attempting to identify and protect the children in the material. This research in progress paper will therefore explore how digital technologies affect victim identification in police investigations of child abuse material. To explore this area, a qualitative study has been applied with semi-structured interviews with individual police officers at the Swedish Police

Trap-assisted tunnelling and Shockley-Read-Hall lifetime of extended defects in In.53Ga.47As p+n junction

Several In.53Ga.47As p+n junctions with various extended defect densities (EDDs) have been grown by metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy (MOVPE), by carefully controlling the growth conditions. After fabrication, T-dependent J-V, C-V and double DLTS (DDLTS) are performed to extract the electrical field dependence of the extended defect levels. From this characterization, it is derived that the extended defects dominate the electrical field enhancement factor Gamma regardless of the value of the EDD and significantly increases the leakage current under reverse bias (i.e., decrease the Shockley-Read-Hall lifetime). These impacts are strongly connected to a "band-like" density of states of extended defects E2 at E-C-0.32 eV by comparing the DDLTS and T-dependent J-V characteristics. On the other hand, the reference sample (without EDs) surprisingly exhibits an even stronger field dependence with lower leakage current. Nevertheless, no straightforward candidate point defects can be found in this sample and the possible explanation are discussed

Being filmed at work: How police perceive citizens\u27 use of cameras to conduct sousveillance

Today’s widespread use of camera-equipped smartphones means that anyone may easily be filmed in public, and - through social media - exposed to a large audience whilst conducting their daily work. Police officers belong to an occupation that frequently has to encounter this situation. The police is a public authority with a broad societal mission aimed at reducing crime and increasing security in society, but is also entitled to make use of force at work. The latter is a fact that places high demands on them to organize and conduct their work in accordance with applicable laws and guidelines to ensure legal security for citizens, and to provide transparency and accountability. We intend to investigate what consequences citizens’ use of this wearable technology with built in cameras have on police officers’ individual practices. This research in progress paper will therefore address the question: How do police perceive citizens’ use of cameras to document them while conducting work? To answer the question, we conducted a qualitative study using the Swedish Police as a case, where in-depth interviews with police officers constitute the main data source. Theoretically, we draw upon on research on technological affordances, accountability, surveillance and sousveillance

Länsstyrelsen som grindvakt

Den här studien beskriver skillnader i handläggningen av landsbygds-programmets projektstöd på två av Sveriges länsstyrelser. Förvaltningarna representeras av Kalmar län som delat ut relativt lite projektstöd och Gävleborg som delat ut betydligt fler projektstöd. Utifrån handläggarrollen presenteras skillnader i handläggningen av projektstöd inom axel 3 i landsbygdsprogrammet 2007-2013. Utifrån två teoretiska perspektiv har skillnader i rollen som handläggare men också förvaltningarnas övergripande organisationskulturer belysts. Jag har beskrivit skillnader i handläggarrollen med hjälp av Michael Lipskys teori kring gräsrotsbyråkrater som klient- eller regelorienterade. Jag har också visat att det råder olika organisationskulturer på länsstyrelserna som en konflikt mellan livsvärld och system med hänvisning till Jürgen Habermas.The aim of this study is to describe differences between two Swedish Administrative Boards, in the processing of project support in the Rural Development Program 2007-2013. One administration is represented by many approved project supports and the other one with less number of approved supports. From the perspective of a street-level bureaucrat, differences will be enlightened within the processing of project support. With Michael Lipsky’s theory about street-level bureaucrats, the study will show in what way the bureaucrats are unlike in their role as street-level bureaucrats. In addition to this Jürgen Habermas theory about lifeworld and system will be used to describe different organisation cultures in the Administrative Boards. With these two theories I explain some reasons to the variations in approved project support, between the two Swedish Administrative Boards