Dual Use Technologies in Cyberspace?
An article titled ‘Anonymization Technology Takes a High Profile’, published in the November edition of Computer, produced by the IEEE Computer Society, examined the growth in the use of anonymization technology in cyberspace. There is a significant amount of debate surrounding anonymization technology, since it can be used to protect basic rights of digital citizens but can also be abused by criminal elements.
Anonymization technology is designed to disguise the source of internet activity. For example, it can be used to hide an IP address from someone intercepting or observing internet activity. Over two dozen nations around the world filter and block information transmissions over the internet according to a study conducted by OpenNet Initiative. The anonymization technology allows users to hide themselves from authorities that may be looking to monitor, block or restrict access. Dissident groups abroad often use the technology to avoid attribution by domestic security services.
However, the technology also can be used for the same purpose by criminals. Anonymization technology allows criminals operating in cyberspace to disguise their involvement in attacks, significantly reducing the ability of law enforcement to track cyber criminals.
The technology sends traffic through a number of other computers in an effort to disguise the origin of an information request (somewhat similar to the botnet concept, without the control aspect). The business for anonymization technology is steadily growing, as demand continues to increase. Some countries are presently working to make the technology platforms illegal.
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