Friday Forum: The FCC and Net Neutrality

Yesterday, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ruled 3-2 in favor of new net neutrality rules. This important decision ensures that all information and web pages will enjoy the same access speeds provided by carriers, with no preferential treatment being granted based on content or higher payment. With net neutrality, the government is essentially treating internet providers like public utility companies, subject to government regulation. Watch the videos below (use your earbuds) and read the articles to get a better understanding of net neutrality.






 Here's Senator Ted Cruz's argument against net neutrality and government regulation.

 


FCC Passes Net Neutrality: What This Means for Americans

FCC Votes "Yes" on Strongest Net-Neutrality Rules

5 Arguments Against Net Neutrality

Feel free to search for other articles on this topic as well if time allows.

Discussion Questions

1. Do you agree with the FCC's decision? Why or why not?

2. Do you believe that internet providers should be regulated like public utilities?

3. Will the FCC's ruling stifle free enterprise and innovation, or better protect small start-ups online?

4. Should websites like Netflix or YouTube that take up more bandwidth have to pay more to ISPs or help with infrastructure costs?

President Obama's ISIS Strategy

In early September, President Obama outlined to the American public his administration's plans to help "degrade" and "destroy" ISIS in the Middle East.

There are two main questions we want to answer regarding this issue:
1. What, specifically, is the President's plan?
2. Is it working?

The first question should be relatively easy to answer. You need to begin by watching (use your earbuds) his address to the American people that explains the rationale for US involvement, the complexities of the conflict, and the US plans for military and diplomatic action. As you watch, please take notes over specific plans that the President outlines.




Vox also has an excellent overview of the President's six point plan.

President Obama Lays Out His Strategy to Destroy ISIS

You can also read about the President's speech here.

Discussion Questions:
1. What part of the President's plan do you think will be the most effective or is the most important?
2. Which part of the plan do you think is the most difficult to implement?
3. Do you agree with the President's proposals? Too little or too much US military involvement?
4. What, if anything, should the US do in addition?



The more difficult question is assessing the effectiveness of the President's plan. It has been nearly six months since he outlined his plan. What, if anything, has changed? We will address and evaluate that question tomorrow.

ISIS and the Recruitment of Foreigners

Although exact numbers are unknown, a considerable number of ISIS members are coming from outside of Syria and Iraq. Who are these people and where are they coming from? Why? What is the appeal? What is ISIS doing to recruit them? How is ISIS trying to expand their followers?

True/False Quiz:

1. Three teenage girls from Denver recently skipped school to fly over to Europe and eventually join ISIS.

2. Approximately 1000 Westerners have joined ISIS so far, nearly 200 women.

3. ISIS has used the video game Battlefield as a form of recruitment.

4. The "ginger jihadist" is a 35 year-old red-head from Australia who joined ISIS last year and has appeared in several propaganda videos for them.

5. As many as 20,000 foreigners from around the world have gone to Syria to join ISIS.

Working with a partner, find articles to answer the following questions. At the end of each answer, be sure to include the source (web address).

1. Where are these outside fighters coming from? Any specific numbers or approximations of these people?
2. Explain why these people are joining ISIS. What are their motivations? Are they all the same or are people joining for different reasons?
3. What is attracting women to ISIS?
4. What is their role in ISIS? How does this help ISIS? 
5. What is ISIS doing to help recruit these people?
6. What can be done, if anything, to reduce the influx of outsiders joining the ranks of ISIS?

UPDATE: Here's a brand new article on ISIS and the recruitment of females.

Friday Forum: The Other Islamist Group Wreaking Havoc

Kidnapping and ransoms. Slaughtering innocent women and children. Islamic extremists. Suicide bombings. Trying to establish a caliphate. Opposed to western values. Fueled by ethnic and religious conflicts. Propaganda and social media. ISIS? Nope.

Don't Ignore Boko Haram's Atrocities

Why Did the World Ignore Boko Haram's Baga Attacks?

Discussion Questions:

• Why does Boko Haram not receive the same media attention as ISIS or the Charlie Hibdo attacks in France?
• Is Boko Haram as big of a threat as ISIS? 
• Should the US be concerned? Why or why not? 
• What should the US do (if anything) in response to the actions (such as the kidnapping of several hundred school children) of Boko Haram?

What Does ISIS Want?

We now know about the origins of ISIS, but what exactly are its goals? What does it hope to accomplish? The short answer to that question is to establish a caliphate. But upon further analysis, it is more complex than that.

How big of  threat is ISIS to the United States? Is this something that should be a priority for US military or is this more of a regional threat that should be handled by countries in the Middle East?

Source: http://www.statista.com/chart/3231/americans-view-isis-as-their-greatest-threat/

Read the following articles to find out more about what ISIS is trying to accomplish and how they are going about it. Are they a threat to Americans? After reading several of the articles and watching the video below (use your earbuds), create two lists: ISIS Goals & ISIS Tactics. Also, assess the threat ISIS poses to the United States. On a scale of 1-10, how worried should we be?

Beheading Video Sends Brutal Message to America: What Does ISIS Want?

ISIS Goals and Possible Future Gains

How Serious a Threat is ISIS?

ISIS Wants to Establish a Caliphate

ISIS Goals and Tactics (video)

What ISIS Really Wants

ISIS & Kidnapping: Should Countries Pay Ransom for Kidnapped Hostages

One of the ways that ISIS funds its operations is through kidnappings and ransoms, primarily from western countries. However, not all countries, including the United States, negotiate with the terrorists and refuse to pay ransom for the hostages. ISIS has executed those hostages and publicized their deaths (often by beheading), through social media.





Should countries accede to terrorists' ransom demands, or allow innocent people to be killed, often in gruesome and public ways?


The Fate of 23 Hostages

Should Nations Just Pay ISIS Ransom?

Why Countries Should Think About Paying Ransoms

Should the US Pay Ransom for ISIS Hostages

Paying Ransoms, Europe Bankrolls Terrorism

After reading the above articles and watching the videos, write an editorial arguing either for or against countries paying ransom for hostages. Include specific reasons for your position.

Standard--Integration of Knowledge and Ideas:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.11-12.7
Integrate and evaluate multiple sources of information presented in diverse formats and media (e.g., visually, quantitatively, as well as in words) in order to address a question or solve a problem.

ISIS and the Obama Administration Response

The Frontline video presented a critical look at the rise of ISIS and the Obama administration's handling of the situation. Several former administration officials and national security experts question the lack of military assistance and continued support of Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki in 2014.

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you think the rise of ISIS in Syria and Iraq could have been slowed by a faster and stronger military response by the United States? Why did the Obama administration wait to intervene?

2. How did the U.S. support for Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki contribute to the problems in Iraq?

3. Should the U.S. supply Syrian rebel fighters in their fight against ISIS and the Syrian government? What danger is there in providing them with weapons?


Yesterday, President Obama formally requested an Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) from Congress to help combat ISIS. In addition to the resolution, here is the letter he sent Congress explaining his request.

The White House web page offers an overview of the President's proposal and rationale for the request: The AUMF against ISIL: What You Need to Know

The Origins of ISIS

A year ago, very few people in the United States knew about or were talking about ISIS. Today, they dominate the news and most Americans are aware of their actions in Syria and Iraq. However, many of us wonder where did they come from? Who started ISIS? How did it grow so quickly?

The roots of ISIS: Read the following article and this article about the origins of ISIS. As you read, define/note how each of the following are involved in the formation of ISIS.

1. Abu Musab al-Zarqawi
2. The 2003 invasion of Iraq
3. AQI
4. the "Awakening"
5. Prime Minister Maliki & the Shiite-Sunni conflict
6. US Withdrawal from Iraq
7. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi
8. Syrian Civil War
9. Mosul

ISIS

Our next area of focus is on the Middle East, specifically ISIS and their activity in Syria and Iraq.

To begin, I would like you to share what you know (or think you know) about ISIS and the current conflict as well as what questions you have about them. Please record your answers and questions using this link.


Ten Things You Need to Know About ISIS




The Rise of ISIS

Friday Forum: Car Wars--Uber & Lyft vs. Standard Taxis and City Regulations

One of the biggest developments in transportation during 2014 was the rise of ride-sharing programs like Uber and Lyft. These companies, along with several others, have threatened the standard practice of taxis and cities' efforts to regulate them.

Read the following articles and watch the videos to find out more about these ride sharing programs and what makes them so controversial.







KC: Ridesharing Program Lyft Operating Illegally

In Ride Sharing Debate, Who is the Bad Guy?

Uber Drives Useful Change in Cab Industry

Why Google's ride-sharing program should terrify Uber and Lyft


Discussion Questions
1. Should Uber, Lyft, and other ride share programs be regulated like taxis?
2. What are the dangers or concerns of ride share programs?
3. What do you think of Google's plan to implement their own ride sharing program, however without actual drivers? Would you trust a driverless car? What other advantages do you see for driverless cars?

Cyberwarfare, Cyberterrorism, and Cyber Crime Assessment

Please go to this link to answer questions related to our unit on cyber crimes and cyber warfare. Good luck!

WikiLeaks: Should Julian Assange be Prosecuted?

Yesterday we looked at the case of Julian Assange and the website WikiLeaks, responsible for releasing thousands of classified US State Department documents. Because of his actions, there are calls to have him prosecuted for threatening national security. Others have defended his right to publish information under the First Amendment's freedom of the press.

First, read what three legal experts believe about the WikiLeaks case and a potential indictment under the 1917 Espionage Act.

U.S. vs. WikiLeaks: Can Assange Be Prosecuted?


Next, read these two brief editorials about whether Julian Assange should be prosecuted.

Prosecute Assange Under the Espionage Act

WikiLeaks Prosecution Would Set Bad Precedent

What do you think? Is this a violation of the Espionage Act? Should Assange be prosecuted? Is he protected under the 1st Amendment? Would this be different if it was a newspaper like the NY Times or Washington Post revealing this information?

WikiLeaks and Julian Assange

One of the most famous cases of the use of the internet to both acquire and publish information is the website WikiLeaks. Founded by Julian Assange in 2006, it became famous in 2010 for its release of US diplomatic cables and classified military information, leaked by US Army officer Bradley (now Chelsea) Manning.

While some consider Assange's acts illegal and others (Joe Biden) have called him a terrorist, he has been widely recognized for bringing to light government corruption throughout the world and was voted Time magazine people's choice for person of the year.

Is Assange a hero for freedom of the press or a criminal intent on causing trouble?

Cybercrime/Hacker Groups: Anonymous, Lizard Squad, & Lulzsec

Hacker groups have made headlines for attacks on other websites, corporations, gaming systems, and even government sites. Among the most famous are Anonymous, Lizard Squad, and Lulzsec. Who is behind these groups? What is their motive? Are they a form of online vigilante justice or criminals hiding behind a keyboard?

This is Lizard Squad

LulzSec: What They Did, Who They Were, and How They Got Caught

Activists or Attackers: Anonymous

Choose one of the above groups and read the article about them. Also check out the wikipedia page about your group and make a list of some of their well known hacktivity.


Anonymous, Lizard Squad, and Lulzsec are not the only hacker groups causing problems. Read about a few others that are active in disrupting systems.