CPSR's approach to advising policymakers

ABSTRACT

This paper describes the approach that Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility (CPSR) uses to advise and influence government policymakers at the local, state, and federal levels. It analyzes why CPSR - a relatively small organization - has enjoyed a fair amount of success in influencing policy. It also describes a recurring pattern that applies to CPSR's involvement in policymaking, using as an example CPSR's involvement in policymaking on the Calling Number Identification (CNID) telephone service. An appendix lists situations in which CPSR has directly advised policymakers.

REFERENCES

• 1: Borenstein, Nathaniel, "One Planet, One Net, Many Voices", The CPSR Newsletter, Winter, 1998, 16(1), page 1.
• 2: David Bellin , Gary Chapman, Computers in battle: will they work?, Harcourt Brace & Co., Orlando, FL, 1987
• 3: Johnson, Jeff, "More Privacy or Less", Bill of Rights JournaL December, 1992, National Emergency Civil Liberties Council, pages 13- t 8. {Preliminary version published in The CPSR Newsletter, Winter-Spring 1990, 8(1-2).}
• 4: Serving the Communi#: A Public Interest Vision of the NationaI Information Inj#astructure, 1993, Palo Alto, CA: Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility.

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  K. Computing Milieux
  K.4 COMPUTERS AND SOCIETY
      K.4.1 Public Policy Issues
          Subjects: Ethics

Additional Classification:
  K. Computing Milieux
  K.4 COMPUTERS AND SOCIETY
      K.4.1 Public Policy Issues
          Subjects: Regulation
  K.7 THE COMPUTING PROFESSION

General Terms:
Human Factors