The Application of Critical Social Theory to National Security Research
Holly Tootell University of Wollongong
Location-Based Services
Scope for this research includes:
RFID GPS and GIS Mobile service
LBS can be used to identify the location of an information device, and in some instances the whereabouts of the user who owns it
National Security
Not just terrorism Events of national security can include:
National disasters: tsunami, earthquake Border control Transportation security Critical infrastructure protection Intelligence gathering Emergency preparedness
LBS being used for national security
Event Location-Based Service
Border control
RFID – passive devices to denote „cleared vehicle‟ GIS – Unmanned aerial vehicles for image transmission
Natural Disaster RFID – to manage victim identification GIS – to estimate damage and target areas Terrorist attack CIP Critical Health Outbreaks GPS – locating persons at attack site GPS – to monitor potential threats to major landmarks, buildings etc RFID – to monitor patients, staff and visitors to hospitals during SARS Mobiles – updates of affected areas
A Critical Approach
Where interpretive researchers seek to maintain the status quo (Walsham, 2005), critical researchers seek to emancipate subjects. Particularly in critical IS research, the aim is to expose attempts to
“design and (mis)use IS to deceive, manipulate, exploit, dominate and disempower people.” (Cecez-Kecmanovic, 2001).
Critical Social Theory
The “primary objective of CST is the improvement of the human condition” (Ngwenyama, 1991). The questioning of the neutrality of technology is essential to understand the social impact of new schemes.
Critical Social Theory
Qualitative Research
Content Analysis
Critica l Social Theory
Case Studies
Understanding communication perception Role of power and bias Systems Acceptance and deployment of LBS national security strategies Lifeworld knowledge for background information Lifeworld Technology acceptance Social implications Privacy expectation
Informing and changing
Methodological Approach adapted from Titscher et al 2000 and Cecez-Kecmanovic 2001
Integrating NS and CST
In each of the national security technology studies, a particular application of the technology is examined, which allows for an in-depth understanding of the system to occur, But it does not examine the impact these technologies can have when applied outside the realm of national security application.
Content Analysis
To uncover reactions and trends
September 11 Bali Bombing London Bombing SARS
Preliminary results show a wave trend with key points of interest
Immediately 3 months 12 months
The Price of Security
The Price of Security is a concept that will be used to determine the trade-off that needs to be made when a new location-based technology is implemented as a solution to national security Complete CCTV in cities Biometric identification for passports Curb-to-curb surveillance RFID implants
Conclusion
What this research is proposing is a way of understanding the impact LBS will have if applied as solutions to national security issues.
Questions?
Holly Tootell School of IT and CS University of Wollongong PhD Research