Maybe you?ve noticed: There?s an election coming up. If you plan to do your civic duty on Super Tuesday, you?ll head to the polls and cast your vote for local, state, and national lawmakers. It?s a basic American right, and one Americans should take seriously. Your vote represents your wishes for the immediate future of our great nation. And for those interested in the technological economy, the coming election represents also an opportunity to cast a political vote that serves both technological and business interests. Even the most apolitical techies should know: Your vote is like a page view ? it matters.
The political landscape for progressive, technology-focused business has always been a difficult one, and it?s an unavoidable reality that our politicians don?t always focus solely on our set of interests. While many see national election selections as ?the lesser of two evils,? consider challenging yourself to be more optimistic. You get one vote, and you should make it count. Consider your specific tech sector interests, and vote accordingly.
Neither President Obama nor Governor Mitt Romney has been particularly coherent on future strategies and plans concerning the tech sector. But we?ve identified some of the major issues concerning the tech sector and users of technology for business and personal ends. Online shoppers and start-up CEOs alike get one vote this November. Here are some of the areas of concern for techies:
Internet Privacy
While some argue that there?s no such thing as an expectation of privacy on the Internet, this issue remains salient to many technology users and online shoppers. Think about it: If you?re encouraged to purchase goods and services through online means, shouldn?t you be able to expect that your payment information be kept safe? Victims of identity theft know that their online security matters. And parents have an interest in online privacy, too.
In 2010, the Children?s Internet Protection Act, or CIPA, was introduced to implement software filters for children and to promote safe practices for Internet usage. Parental involvement in children?s Internet use remains an issue, and parents want to make the Internet a safe, fun, educational place for their children. Just days ago, the FTC began to face a controversy concerning 1998?s COPPA, the Children?s Online Privacy Protection Act. Additionally, the advent and propagation of facial recognition technology is becoming widely, though not publicly, used. The FTC issued guidelines for facial recognition software use this October, advocating company transparency about the new practice and its intended uses online. Both children?s privacy and facial-recognition software use will be top privacy concerns for Internet users during the next administration. IP addresses, spyware, malware, and other data mining software are other Internet privacy concerns. Internet privacy is such a wide-ranging issue that the Pew Research Center has opened the Pew Internet and American Life Project to study these issues.
Internet Piracy
While peer-to-peer file sharing remains legal, Internet piracy is a hot button issue in today?s political landscape. Many peer-to-peer networks encourage legal file sharing ? through office networks or university departments, for example. But problems arise when copyrighted material is shared freely and openly without regard to licensure. Identity theft is also a risk of online piracy practices. The controversial SOPA, or Stop Online Piracy Act, was introduced last year by a Republican lawmaker from Texas, but was met with massive protests from Internet users and online business owners.
Apologists for the legislation argued that SOPA would protect intellectual property rights and decrease the ?active promotion of rogue websites? by U.S. search engines. A vocal opposition from the Internet community contended that the passage of SOPA would inhibit innovation and infringe on the fundamental right to free speech, as it would enable law enforcement to restrict access to entire Internet domains due to a single instance of infringing content. On Jan. 8, Wikipedia, Reddit, and upwards of 7,000 smaller web portals underwent a coordinated blackout to raise awareness of the negative implications of the bill. Anonymous, a ?hacktivist? Internet group, also blocked access to several pro-SOPA websites and services, such as CBS.com and the RIAA.
SOPA?s political opponents answered with another bill, the Online Protection and Enforcement of Digital Trade Act (OPEN), intended to be a workable alternative to SOPA. President Obama petitioned against SOPA from its beginnings, stating that, ?While we believe that online piracy by foreign websites is a serious problem that requires a serious legislative response, we will not support legislation that reduces freedom of expression, increases cybersecurity risk, or undermines the dynamic, innovative global Internet.? The President also stated that he would veto the passage of SOPA, and discussions were tabled after massive protests killed public support for the bill. Governor Romney also spoke out against SOPA during the Republican presidential primary debates.
Internet Monetization
While piracy and privacy are the top two political issues for the traditional techie voter, those focused on the technology economy have two other election day concerns: Internet monetization and possibilities for future investment. Internet monetizers are often small businesses, whose tax rates and future investment options could be at the whim of the winning candidate. A Hartford poll published in USA Today states that 77% of small business owners believe their business tax rates will increase, no matter who wins the election. With only 33% of survey respondents optimistic about the economy, the presidential election could look abysmal from either side. This late in the media cycle, both candidates are slinging shame about their opponent?s small business tax plans. But those involved in tech start-ups should operate with cautious optimism. Small business has long been the lifeblood of the American economy, and the technology economy has not fundamentally changed this fact.
The presidential candidates both wrote letters to New York?s recent Tech MeetUp in October. Governor Romney vowed to raise visa caps for ?highly skilled foreign workers,? as well as lowering the corporate tax rate by one-quarter and weakening the power of regulatory agencies governing the technology sector. ?As president,? he wrote, ?I will emphasize policies that once again make America the best place in the world to make a discovery, start a business, hire a worker or find a job.?
President Obama has been called ?the tech president,? and consistently praises those working in the tech sector. ?The reason I?ve never been more optimistic about the future is because of all of you,? the President wrote. ?You?ll be the next entrepreneur to turn a big idea into something ? a new invention or an entire new
industry.? While innovation and start-ups are a top concern for the technology economy, the potential for investors is another top concern.
Investors
Tech start-ups often rely on venture capitalists and angel investors to fund them through their first years of effective monetization. An Oct. 29 article in the Chicago Tribune stated that President Obama is losing ground with venture capitalist investors, both those contributing to his campaign and those that represent a piece of the technology economy. Some investment firms are backing Governor Romney?s campaign, stating displeasure with the President?s current performance in the sector and his record concerning technological innovations. Governor Romney once ran a private equity firm, and has experience in leveraging capital for business ends, making him a strong candidate for some business owners and investors.
Bob Nelson, co-founder of Arch Venture Partners in Seattle, has changed his vote. According to the Tribune interview, he usually votes for the more progressive candidate, but his loyalty lies with the technology economy. Thus far, he?s disappointed with President Obama?s advocacy of the field. Obama intends to eliminate the carried-interest tax break, which benefits venture capitalists? fiduciary claims on their investments. (The current tax break affects levies on venture capitalists? share of profits from investments. Venture capitalists pay the capital-gains rate on carried interest, in lieu of paying income tax.) In the same article, President of the National Venture Capitalist Association Mark Heesen said he believes that the venture capitalist mindset looks to the challenger, and not to the status quo ? support of Romney by this population, therefore, is both unsurprising and expected.
Cyberbullying and Internet Freedom
Two final, major issues concern the technology-focused voting populace. Cyberbullying, or use of the Internet for deliberate social harm, has come to the forefront of the American political discussion. Bullying of all sorts has been a national conversation during the Obama administration, and those fighting cyberbullying aren?t finished yet. Recently, North Carolina has introduced a School Violence Prevention Act, aimed at making the cyberbullying of teachers illegal. In an October open forum conversation with President Obama on MTV, the President discussed the negative impacts of cyberbullying and the problems inherent in its legislation. ?It is challenging, because part of the power of the Internet is that information flows out there, and it?s generally not censored and it?s generally not controlled by any single authority,? the President said. ?The law is a powerful thing, but the law doesn?t always change what?s in people?s hearts. So all of us have an obligation to think about how we?re treating other people. What we may think is funny or cute may end up being powerfully hurtful.?
Finally, the all-encompassing issue of Internet freedom is a cause that might embolden many to cast their votes this November. David Segal, the executive director of Demand Progress, recently stated, ?As the Internet becomes more critical to our democracy and economy, concerns about the freedom to connect online are ever more important to ordinary Americans. [ ... ] It behooves both parties to demonstrate their support for that cause ? in their platforms, and in their legislative undertakings.?
The Republican party has spoken out in favor of Internet freedom and in opposition of ?net neutrality,? making it an official part of their 2012 platform. In September?s South Carolina Republican primary debate, Governor Romney railed against SOPA, stating that, ?the law as written is far too intrusive, far too expansive, far too threatening to freedom of speech and movement of information across the Internet. It would have a potentially depressing impact on one of the fastest growing industries in America, which is the Internet and all those industries connected to it.?
In an ?AMA? (?Ask Me Anything?) discussion on Reddit, President Obama addressed the issue. ?Internet freedom is something I know you all care passionately about; I do too. We will fight hard to make sure that the Internet remains the open forum for everybody ? from those who are expressing an idea to those to want to start a business. And although their will be occasional disagreements on the details of various legislative proposals, I won?t stray from that principle ? and it will be reflected in the platform,? the President wrote.
Obama went on to write, ?A free and open Internet is essential component of American society and of the modern economy. I support legislation to protect intellectual property online, but any effort to combat online piracy must not reduce freedom of expression, increase cybersecurity risk, or undermine the dynamic, innovative global Internet. I also believe it is essential that we take steps to strengthen our cybersecurity and ensure that we are guarding against threats to our vital information systems and critical infrastructure, all while preserving Americans? privacy, data confidentiality, and civil liberties and recognizing the civilian nature of cyberspace.?
Source: http://www.cmn.com/2012/11/in-focus-the-2012-presidential-election-and-the-tech-sector/
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