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Membership
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Laws (Rules and Roads)
With the development of writing, it became possible to commit norms or customs to a stable format. These laws or rules play a role similar to the reputation of an individual: By examining the laws one can predict how a group or organization will act in a given situation. The system of writing has evolved from manual transcription, to printing, and finally to computer-network transmission and reproduction. With the advent of computer systems, it no longer requires administrative personnel to apply a rule system. For example, an automated teller machine can limit the amount of money withdrawn according to preset rules, without the intervention of a person. The number and complexity of laws in modern society has led to an increasing dependence upon information technology for their administration. Artifacts of various types increasingly guide behavior. Locks responding to biometric information may limit whom is permitted to enter a building. Access to computerized information and bank accounts may be controlled by similar mechanisms. Human constructed paths and roads guide persons in their travels, as do walls, fences, and other constructed barriers. Increasingly, however, it is maps and automated systems for guiding travel that determine paths actually taken. A person assigned to a certain role within an organization may have access to resources, such as bank accounts, which are closed to others. Information technology makes it possible for a person to control vast resources at remote locations. A single person or small group may control several organizations, in effect using these as distinct identities. This type of control can be very effective in directing or limiting the behavior of others. This control can be particularly effective when a target individual's data from several organizations can be linked to provide a comprehensive profile of habits and resources. One way to counter such a threat is to maintain a different identity or persona with each organization. Many of the negative effects of comprehensive personal data collection can be countered by such a strategy. Thus, effective application of information technology may be crucial in preserving the individual's freedom of thought and action in the future.
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