acm-header
Sign In

Communications of the ACM

Recent Opinion


bg-corner

Why Do We Blindly Sign Terms of Service Agreements?
From ACM Opinion

Why Do We Blindly Sign Terms of Service Agreements?

Audie Cornish talks with University of Chicago Law School professor Omri Ben-Shahar about terms of service agreements for software and websites.

Nsa Implementing Fix to Prevent Snowden-Like Security Breach
From ACM Opinion

Nsa Implementing Fix to Prevent Snowden-Like Security Breach

A year after Edward Snowden's digital heist, the NSA's chief technology officer says steps have been taken to stop future incidents. But he says there's no way...

The Hazards of Probing the Internet's Dark Side
From ACM Opinion

The Hazards of Probing the Internet's Dark Side

Late last year, hackers breached Target's data security and stole information from millions of credit cards.

Keeping Time By Rubidium at the Naval Observatory
From ACM Careers

Keeping Time By Rubidium at the Naval Observatory

You know when you dial a number, and a man reads you the exact time at the tone? That precise timekeeping starts at the Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C.

The Turing Test Is Not What You Think It Is
From ACM Opinion

The Turing Test Is Not What You Think It Is

Whether or not you caught wind of the excited announcement that "Eugene Goostman," a computer program ("chatbot") devised by Vladimir Veselov, Eugene Demchenko,...

One ­niverse, One Life: A Conjecture
From ACM Opinion

One ­niverse, One Life: A Conjecture

Opening Disclaimer 1: Although there may be more than one universe, as per the hypothetical multiverse, we will humbly submit to our own bubble of information,...

While Warning of Chinese Cyberthreat, ­.s. Launches Its Own Attack
From ACM Opinion

While Warning of Chinese Cyberthreat, ­.s. Launches Its Own Attack

The U.S. government has long complained about Chinese hacking and cyberattacks, but new documents show that the National Security Agency managed to penetrate the...

'what Everyone Needs To Know' About Today's Cyberthreats
From ACM Opinion

'what Everyone Needs To Know' About Today's Cyberthreats

Even if cybersecurity isn't a subject you think about a lot, the data breach of credit card information from Target and Neiman Marcus customers has probably increased...

The Case Against Clemency: Expert Says Snowden's Leaks Hurt Security
From ACM Opinion

The Case Against Clemency: Expert Says Snowden's Leaks Hurt Security

A former NSA general counsel tells NPR's Morning Edition that Edward Snowden advertised his theft of government secrets as an act of civil disobedience and should...

The Case For Clemency: Expert Says Snowden Deserves A Pass
From ACM Opinion

The Case For Clemency: Expert Says Snowden Deserves A Pass

What's to be done about Edward Snowden?

­.k. Official ­rges ­.s. Government to Adopt a Digital Core
From ACM Opinion

­.k. Official ­rges ­.s. Government to Adopt a Digital Core

When he read about the technical failures plaguing HealthCare.gov, Mike Bracken said it felt like a real-life version of the movie Groundhog Day.

Your Digital Trail, And How It Can Be ­sed Against You
From ACM News

Your Digital Trail, And How It Can Be ­sed Against You

While the collection of private information by the National Security Agency is under scrutiny worldwide, a remarkable amount of your digital trail is also available...

How a Look at Your Gmail Reveals the Power of Metadata
From ACM News

How a Look at Your Gmail Reveals the Power of Metadata

Sometimes you have to give up a little privacy in order to find out how much—or how little—privacy you really have.

Will the Nsa Rethink Its Data Collection System?
From ACM Opinion

Will the Nsa Rethink Its Data Collection System?

Weekend Edition Sunday Host Rachel Martin talks to Joel Brenner, former senior counsel at the National Security Agency, about whether the NSA can protect Americans'...

Is Massively Open Online Education a Threat or a Blessing?
From ACM News

Is Massively Open Online Education a Threat or a Blessing?

In fall 2011, Sebastian Thrun, a research professor at Stanford, and Peter Norvig, the top scientist at Google, teamed up to develop and teach a free, online course...

Google Execs Say 'the Power of Information Is ­nderrated'
From ACM Opinion

Google Execs Say 'the Power of Information Is ­nderrated'

"We fear that the natural action for, in particular, autocratic governments experiencing what we describe as 'virtual urbanization' will be to balkanize the Internet...

Yahoo Buys News App from British Teenager For a Reported $30 Million
From ACM Opinion

Yahoo Buys News App from British Teenager For a Reported $30 Million

When Yahoo was founded in 1995, Nick D'Aloisio wasn't even born yet. He says he taught himself to program computers using books and video tutorials.

5 Nerds to Watch in 2013
From ACM Careers

5 Nerds to Watch in 2013

When Steve Jobs died, there was a lot of talk about who would be the next Steve Jobs. But the truth is, rarely can one person reshape the future. And breakthroughs...

Forget Yolo: Why 'big Data' Should Be the Word of the Year
From ACM Opinion

Forget Yolo: Why 'big Data' Should Be the Word of the Year

"Big Data" hasn't made any of the words-of-the-year lists I've seen so far. That's probably because it didn't get the wide public exposure given to items like "...

The Future Of 'short Attention Span Theater'
From ACM Opinion

The Future Of 'short Attention Span Theater'

We've been looking at how technology has totally changed what it means to watch television or a movie. One of the biggest changes has been in demand—people want...
Sign In for Full Access
» Forgot Password? » Create an ACM Web Account