Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1999. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Bay Windows - National News February 4, 1999
Scott A. Giordano, Bay Windows staff
The chip already has sparked a boycott of Intel by the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) and raised eyebrows at the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) -- among other groups that claim it will invade people's privacy, particularly in regards to gay and lesbian individuals.
Similar to what a caller I.D. does with a telephone, the Pentium III chip would automatically transmit the PSN when someone logs on to a Web site and allegedly could be used by companies only to verify the identity of people who are visiting a Web site and track the users' online activities for marketing purposes and to help crack down on online fraud.
Opponents of the chip say that even though the information from the chip would only go into company databases, they fear a number of abuses could result -- such as insurance companies using the information to compile lists of people they believe to be HIV-positive or at risk of acquiring HIV/AIDS, anti-gay employers seeking or compiling lists of potential employees they believe to be gay or who have visited gay Web sites, or the Pentagon using the information to scope out servicemembers they believe to be gay or lesbian.
Following a two-hour meeting with representatives from the EPIC and other opponents, Intel announced on Jan. 28 it would develop a software patch that would automatically default the PSN when a computer is turned on. However, boycott organizers still are not convinced the corporation is doing enough to protect people's privacy because the software patch would have to be done manually each time the computer is turned on. They then extended their boycott to any PC manufacturer who ships a Pentium III system with the PSN included.
Andy Grove, an Intel spokesperson on the subject, was not available for comment at Bay Windows press time.
GLAAD Interactive Media Director Loren Javier is concerned with the Pentium III chip because there are more questions than answers at this point about how it may effect lesbian and gay people. GLAAD Executive Director Joan Garry is trying to meet with Intel officials to discuss the concerns.
"We would like to get the bigger picture about why [Intel feels the chip] is necessary. ... Privacy is very important to [the gay] community, especially in terms of the many gay and lesbian youth who are not ready to come out and are looking for [gay and lesbian] resources online," Javier said. "The chip raises an eyebrow for GLAAD because it is something that has the potential to invade people's privacy. ... We want to talk with Intel and make sure we are all on the same page about this."
Others say the chips have the potential to mislead companies or individuals, if a guest should use someone else's computer. "There are already companies that are formed to create massive databases of what people do online. The problem is that if every web site can identify your number, it doesn't take much to find out anything about you," said John Aravosis, president of Wired Strategies, an onlince advocacy company. "Anyone who runs a web site can get access to this unique number that identifies who owns the computer. ... Their databases could be incorrect, so that could be an advantage or a disadvantage," he said.
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