There has been yet another stink raised over information being distributed that could potentially be used for malicious purposes. In this case it’s over YouTube videos demonstrating how to pick a lock. Some people don’t like the idea that information like this is made so publicly available, arguing that this could lead more people to illegally break into people’s homes. Others point out that the information isn’t to blame, it’s the people who put the information to bad use that are to blame.
A couple observations on my part:
1. In my experience, people who argue for the freedom of information on the Net are usually the same people who will turn around and argue for strict gun control. I say, you’ve got to be consistent across the board. Don’t blame gun companies for gun-related deaths, blame the people who put the guns to bad use. Just like information, guns are not inherently good or bad, they just “are.” Or, to quote one of my favorite shirts, “Guns don’t kill people, I kill people.”
2. Would it be different if a person were to give an online demonstration (all fictional, of course, but more like a “reenactment”) of how to stalk a woman with intent to rape her? Or what if a person did an online video of how to break into YOUR house specifically? How does one draw the line on what information should be freely available and what information should be silenced? I cringe at the thought of a person making an online tutorial revealing how to molest kids without getting caught.
My reason for asking these questions is, at what point does publicly releasing information become a bad thing? Does it EVER become a bad thing or does ALL information deserve to be as publicly available as possible? I think that some information should be publicly available but I think it’s foolish to be completely indiscriminate about what information one allows to be viewable. Some sort of a line has to be drawn. I’m not sure what I think about this topic. Let’s discuss … what do you think?
