AGE OF UNCONTROLLED INFORMATION-FLOW

We are heading into an era of uncontrolled and uncontrollable informat ion flow. In the past, the tools of information flow required large in vestments, and the persons controlling them were easily identifiable. Now, effective long-range communication with large numbers of people c an be done-using tools that are easily affordable to the average citiz en. Moreover, it can be done in ways that make monitoring and control virtually impossible. This is not a worrisome future change that can b e averted by prompt action; it is a fait accompli and there is no reve rsing it. However, this is not necessarily clear to those interested i n monitoring and control. Unfortunately, the bulk of electronic commun ication is still relatively exposed to monitoring and control, and is likely to remain so for a while. The danger is that the authorities, t rying to retain a grip on a situation that is irretrievably slipping a way, will react to the extremes of the problem in ways that leave ordi nary users' privacy unprotected. The best approach is to adapt traditi onal solutions rather than inventing new ones. The safeguards built in to the traditional solutions may not be precisely appropriate, but the y are far better than nothing.