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Discovering Computers: Ethics in Action Carnivore or DCS 1000 was a Microsoft Windows-based workstation with and a removable disk drive and packet-sniffing software, implemented by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Although the FBI claimed that Carnivore was designed to effectively monitor electronic and email communication on the internet, and, therefore, was aimed to prevent terrorism attacks and to monitor and store the e-mail and internet activity of suspected criminals, terrorists and spies, it immediately became the subject of heated debates due to ethical concerns. It was claimed that the use of this system violates privacy rights. Also, as Carnivore can be accessed by a username-password combination, system becomes vulnerable to potential hacker abuse. Two other arguments against the system are so-called rogue agent problem (the system can potentially be used for illegitimate espionage cause) and mishap problem. (Eggen) The Carnivore system did not gain much popularity because the average user did not like the idea of being monitored by the law enforcement agencies that were listening to unencrypted wireless voice and data transmissions. This controversial surveillance program was adopted during the administration of Bill Clinton under approval of the Attorney General (Gilman).
Carnivore could be installed on a users computer system either according to the court order, or through cooperation of the computer system owner. The system should be physically installed at the location where it could sniff internet traffic on a LAN segment (for example, at an Internet service provider). Carnivore used straightforward filtering and standard packet sniffer (Dunham). There were many protests concerning the implementation, the use and potential abuses of Carnivore.
In 2000 the Electronic Frontier Foundation and the Electronic Privacy Information Center warned about the possible dangers of this system. After negative press coverage and public debates, the FBI decided to change Carnivore name to DCS 1000 (Digital Collection System); however, DCS 1000 had the same functions. Works Cited Dunham, G. "Carnivore, The FBI's e-mail surveillance system: Devouring criminals, not privacy. " Federal Communications Law Journal 54 (2002): 543 - 566. Eggen, D. "Carnivore glitches blamed for FBI woes. " Washington Post 29 May 2002: A 7. Gilman, J. "Carnivore: The uneasy relationship between the Fourth Amendment and electronic surveillance of internet communications. " Comm Law Conspectus 9 (2001): 111 - 129.
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Research essay sample on Computer System E Mail
