VOA慢速英语2014 非政府组织呼吁立法保护网络隐私

 

Groups Call for Law to Protect Internet Privacy¹ 非政府组织呼吁立法保护网络隐私

The Internet Governance Forum² took place last week in Istanbul, Turkey. The United Nations provided support to the yearly conference.

Delegates³ expressed concern about the growth of companies selling powerful Internet surveillance software. Some software programs can collect information about individuals around the world. Many of these people are private citizens.

The surveillance software industry is worth billions of dollars. Yet some experts say making laws to govern the use of such products is proving difficult.

Gregoire Pouget is with the group Reporters Without Borders. He believes there is a need for new laws and other regulations in the industry. He says surveillance software can be used to spy on journalists, bloggers and other people who use the Internet.

Laura Tresca was the Brazilian representative of an organization called Article 19. It fights against unlawful censorship, the banning of reports or other things thought to be offensive⁴. Ms. Tresca said Latin America is becoming a big market for the surveillance software industry. She said Brazil spent nearly $200 million on surveillance software products in the past four years. She notes that Brazilian officials said the technology was supposed to help protect the country during the 2014 World Cup competition. But, in her words, “this software was used to monitor activists⁵ to avoid protests."

Scott Busby is with the Department of State in Washington. He says the laws used to control the weapons industry also control the use of surveillance software.

"It’s an issue of great concern to us, not only because some of the companies doing this are American companies. But I would point out that the issue is being addressed under the VASNA arrangement, for the non-proliferation of dangerous items. It formerly⁶ dealt with weapons, and now it’s looking at surveillance technologies."

But experts and activists say surveillance software is very different from weapons. They say the surveillance software industry will need special laws.

Silvia Grundmann is head of media for the Council of Europe rights group. She says European businesses are among the leaders in the surveillance software industry. She adds that finding the balance between human rights, the Internet and trade takes a lot time.

"If you go into making new regulation, new laws either on the domestic⁷ level or then on the international level, notably⁸ on the international level it takes a long period of time. And during this [period of] time journalists get surveyed, and they might even lose their lives as a result of it. So I think time is a crucial factor there; my call would be to really use existing domestic laws."

But Gregoire Pouget says countries need stronger surveillance technology laws now.

Mr. Pouget says the high cost of the software programs means only a few countries are able to buy it. But he says in only a few years, the cost of surveillance software will lower sharply⁹. When that happens, Mr. Pouget believes large companies and even wealthy individuals will buy the software. Experts worry that increased surveillance of citizens around the world will end a person’s sense of privacy.

1 privacy   

n.私人权利，个人自由，隐私权

参考例句：

• In such matters,privacy is impossible.在这类事情中，保密是不可能的。
• She wept in the privacy of her own room.她在自己房内暗暗落泪。

2 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。

3 delegates   

代表，代表团成员( delegate的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The conference was attended by delegates from 56 countries. 此次会议有来自56个国家的代表出席。
• Delegates expressed strong opposition to the plans. 代表强烈反对这些计划。

4 offensive   

adj.令人不快的，侮辱的，攻击用的；n.进攻

参考例句：

• His mode of doing business is offensive to me.他干事情的方式叫我很不喜欢。
• If all else fails,I will take the offensive.如果其他方法不行，我将采取攻势。

5 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 formerly   

adv.从前，以前

参考例句：

• We now enjoy these comforts of which formerly we had only heard.我们现在享受到了过去只是听说过的那些舒适条件。
• This boat was formerly used on the rivers of China.这船从前航行在中国内河里。

7 domestic   

adj.家里的，国内的，本国的；n.家仆，佣人

参考例句：

• This is domestic news.这是国内新闻。
• She does the domestic affairs every day.她每天都忙家务。

8 notably   

adv.值得注意地，显著地，尤其地，特别地

参考例句：

• Many students were absent,notably the monitor.许多学生缺席，特别是连班长也没来。
• A notably short,silver-haired man,he plays basketball with his staff several times a week.他个子明显较为矮小，一头银发，每周都会和他的员工一起打几次篮球。

9 sharply   

adj.锐利地，急速；adv.严厉地，鲜明地

参考例句：

• The plane dived sharply and rose again.飞机猛然俯冲而后又拉了起来。
• Demand for personal computers has risen sharply.对个人电脑的需求急剧增长。