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A Diseased Cyberspace and How to Treat It

Grateful Dead Lyricist John Perry Barlow once wrote in “A Declaration of the Independence for Cyberspace” of a potential place free from state intervention where a new social contract might arise in the absence of privilege and prejudice, economic power, military force, and station of birth. Regrettably, Barlow’s vision has not come to pass. Instead, cyberspace has been invaded by all those qualities he sought independence from and more. Writing following a contentious election in the United States (US) and amidst a pandemic that has forced billions to work and socially interact intermediate through technologies, it is difficult not to question whether cyberspace has itself become in so many ways a diseased space, where the worst qualities of humanity are cultivated.

Patient Centric Cybersecurity – Excerpt

Over the last several decades there has been a shift in standard models of healthcare both in the United States and globally. Patient centric approaches in health care reorient the power relationships of physicians and patients. This shift elevates the needs and challenges of the patients and builds a more robust and communicative relationship to foster improved health outcomes. Recently, Nataliya Brantly, VT STS PhD Student and Dr. Aaron Brantly, Department of Political Science, Tech4Humanity Lab Director, took up the issue of patient centric care and focused on expanding it to encompass cybersecurity concerns.

Which Countries Visit the Most Hidden Services Sites?

This week, my new article with Eric Jardine and Gareth Owenson, “The potential harms of the Tor anonymity network cluster disproportionately in free countries,” came out in PNAS. Using a global sample of Tor users, we show that a higher percentage of Tor clients in politically free countries go to hidden services sites than in less free countries. Past studies have shown that much of the traffic to hidden services sites goes to cryptomarkets and child abuse imagery sites. The corollary is that higher % of clients in repressive regimes use Tor to access the surface web.

Virginia Students Are Game Changineers

Computational Thinking (CT) forms the backbone behind cybersecurity, autonomous systems, data sciences, and many of the tech jobs. Understanding CT instills in the learners the manner in which computer scientists and cyber professionals think about the problems at hand. Needless to say, the construction of modern-day digital artifacts is highly complex. The skill set needed to adequately create interesting programs (such as Pacman and other apps) using today’s programming languages often requires multiple years of computer science training. As we enter the world of smart homes and smart cities, the need to be able to think, reason, interact with, and program these digital devices is of paramount importance.

AI in agriculture: symptom or a remedy?  

Every day new technologies, in particular Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML), are being developed and implemented on farms in the United States and around the world. Yet, rarely is the changing nature of technology on farms considered from a human perspective. Specifically, is AI in agriculture, in fact, benefiting or harming humanity?

How could AI Pilots affect the Air Force?

A quick Google search of ‘US Air Force’ instantly pulls up images of fighter pilots and stunning photos of fighter aircrafts like Lockheed Martin’s F-22 Raptor flying menacingly across a vast blue sky. After loading the Air Force website, the user is greeted with the Air Force’s recruiting slogan “Aim High” with a montage of aviation-related content, including videos and images of proud pilots. When one thinks of the Air Force, a fighter pilot is the most common first thought. But with increased research and abilities of AI algorithms and the possibility of self-piloted planes, the Air Force’s proud pilot reputation may be shattered, drastically changing the branch and eliminating this desired career field.

To Prevent Pandemics, Automate Meat Production by Divorcing it from Animals

If ever there were a need for a safer, more automated food production process, it’s in our meat industry. Right now, we breed into existence billions upon billions of farm animals each year, living creatures who require extensive resources (food, water, land, etc.) for months or years before we slaughter them. The inefficiency of this system is well-publicized, as is the fact that it’s a leading driver of deforestation, antibiotic resistance, climate change, biodiversity loss, animal welfare concerns, and more.

Misperceptions about Misinformation and Disinformation

As the election cycle in the U.S. entered its final stretches, many personae non gratae have emerged, aiming to influence the election at the last minute by spreading political misinformation and disinformation. They include the Russian government and the individuals and groups it sponsored, such as the Internet Research Agency (IRA). They are allegedly waging political disinformation campaigns targeting the upcoming U.S. election, intended to spread disinformation, sow divisions among the U.S. electorate, affect the electoral outcome, and ultimately degrade the democratic system.

Electronic Voting and Election Security

With the onset of the pandemic, several countries and local governments, including state governments in the U.S., are considering or have adopted online voting, also known as remote voting or Internet-voting. Some countries, such as Estonia, have fully embraced I-voting as a regular mode of voting. Moreover, many governments have already adopted tools of electronic voting, such as electronic—usually paperless—voting machines, in their process of election administration. Experts estimate that up to 12 percent of voters will vote on paperless equipment in the 2020 U.S. elections.