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Computer Chip Could 'Out' Gays |
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Compiled by GayToday
Washington, D.C. -- Gay Internet groups warned Tuesday that a new generation of
smart computer chips made by the world's largest chipmaker, Intel, could
"out" gays surfing the World Wide Web.
This followed Monday's earlier announcement that the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) and JunkBusters have launched a boycott of all Intel products until the controversial chip is changed. When a computer containing Intel's new Pentium III chip is online, the chip will automatically transmit a unique serial number, permitting a Web site to ultimately verify the true identity of an online visitor. Intel argues that this caller-ID-type service will help e-commerce sites crack down on fraud.
Anti-gay employers might seek lists of job applicants who have visited gay-oriented Web sites. And the Pentagon could mis-use the chip to launch high-tech witch hunts against suspected gay servicemembers. "Our experience with the millions of people who visit our lesbian/gay sites every year shows that privacy is a major concern for them - for some a matter of life and death," said Carl Pritzkat, co-owner of Mediapolis, inc. "Any action that threatens to erode that privacy --especially by a company as powerful as Intel ---demands the full attention and reaction of lesbians and gays online," added Pritzkat. Intel makes about 85 percent of the world's computer processors. "Anonymity is of particular importance to the online lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, especially those in isolated areas and situations," said Joan M. Garry, Executive Director of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), "As we have seen with Timothy McVeigh, the gay navy man who was 'outed' by an ambiguous AOL profile, an invasion of privacy can lead to even further isolation, often meaning loss of home and job. "The Intel microchip raises an eyebrow because it could easily infringe on privacy and potentially affect the growth of our vibrant community on the Internet. GLAAD is in the process of contacting Intel to raise our concerns about the chip and to open a dialogue around this and other privacy issues." While Intel argues that the identifier can be turned off manually by the user, the identifier turns on again automatically each time the computer re-boots. In the face of growing public criticism, Intel announced Tuesday that it will make available a software patch that would turn off the serial number when the computer is turned on. EPIC warned on its Web site http://www.epic.org that this response is insufficient: "The number will still remain in hardware and it is likely that users will be required to turn it on as a condition to enter many web sites for marketing purposes." Gay advocates are encouraging everyone to visit EPIC's Web site to find out more about the Pentium III chip. They are also asking the online public to email their concerns to Intel founder Andy Grove, and to urge leading computer makers to stop using Intel components until the chipmaker removes the PSN (processor serial number) from its chips. The companies to contact are: Intel, Andy Grove, founder: andy_grove@intel.com Dell, Michael S. Dell, Chairman and CEO: office_of_the_ceo@dell.com Gateway: olsales@gateway.com Toshiba: csdwebmaster@tais.toshiba.com Compaq: http://www.compaq.com/comments.html (online form) IBM: http://www.ibm.com/Contact/Query (online form) Wired Strategies is a Washington, DC-based political Internet consulting firm specializing in using the Internet to influence and implement public policy. Wired Strategies represented Master Chief Timothy McVeigh in his online privacy case against America Online, and recently joined GAYBC Radio Network in a successful online campaign against discriminatory treatment of lesbians and gays in Merriam-Webster's online thesaurus. Mediapolis, inc. is a New York-based Internet company that operates over 20 different lesbian/gay Web sites for clients including GLAAD, GLSEN, Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, and the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund. Mediapolis also operates the Data Lounge GLAAD is the nation's lesbian and gay media advocacy organization. GLAAD promotes fair, accurate and inclusive representation of individuals and events in all media as a means of combating homophobia and all forms of discrimination based on sexual orientation or identity. |
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