[A2k] NEXA: Job Opening: Anonymity, Privacy and Internet Access

[Andrea Glorioso]

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FYI

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http://nexa.polito.it/job-openings/anonymity-privacy-access

Job Opening: Anonymity, Privacy and Internet Access

   Published Wed, 05/08/2009 - 14:58

   The NEXA Center for Internet & Society at the Politecnico di Torino
   (DAUIN) seeks two bright, proactive and motivated researchers for the
   following job posting.

Title of the project and main objectives

   Title: Identifying Internet users: technical, legal and economic
   analysis of the consequences on privacy, fundamental freedoms,
   innovation and business models.

   The project concerns the growing possibility of identifying Internet
   users and tracking their on-line activities. This issue is to be
   analyzed from a multidisciplinary point of view, taking simultaneously
   into account technical, legal and economic aspects and their
   consequences on privacy, fundamental freedoms, innovation and business
   models.

   The topic is very broad. To start from a specific example, the research
   is to be focused, at least initially, on the Italian Decree 27/07/2005,
   n. 144 (now Law n. 155 of 31 luglio 2005). This law was adopted as an
   emergency measure to fight terrorism and to increase the safety of
   citizens and of national infrastructures and currently conditions
   Internet access on the strong identification of Internet users (via
   picture I.D., or, in recent cases, via SMS). While enhanced safety is
   certainly a worthy societal objective, the consequences on privacy and
   other fundamental freedoms of citizens, but also on innovation and
   business models, have so far not been investigated. Among the issues
   involved are: the widespread availability of Wi-Fi in Italy, the
   adoption of advanced technologies, such as wireless mesh networks, the
   likelihood that shopping malls or bars offer free Internet connection
   to their customers. A rational costs-benefits analysis, therefore, has
   so far not been possible, preventing the identification of solutions
   representing a widely agreed upon trade-off between, on the one side,
   enhanced protection from criminal activities and, on the other side,
   individual and entrepreneurial fundamental liberties.

   The impact of the aforementioned Italian law, therefore, is to provide
   the initial case study for the research project, but would not
   represent the exclusive focus of the analysis. The research, in fact,
   should provide a comparative analysis of the situation and similar laws
   in OECD countries; furthermore, the NEXA Center for Internet & Society
   intends to study this and similar issues and their social and economic
   impact, with the goal of reaching a deeper understanding of the
   interrelationship between anonymity, privacy and Internet access.

Additional information

   The project will be supervised by the directors of the NEXA Center for
   Internet & Society and will take place in coordination with the staff
   of the Center.

   For additional information about the NEXA Center for Internet &
   Society, see: http://nexa.polito.it.

   This job opening concerns a research grant ("assegno di ricerca") for
   the duration of 1 year (in principle, renewable) and with a yearly
   salary of euro 17,700 (entirely tax-exempt under Italian fiscal laws).
   The deadline for the submission of applications (and of the required
   documents) is 30 September 2009. Please, see the link below for
   additional information.

   The selected applicants are expected to start their research activity
   on 1^st November 2009.

Selection criteria

   The selection will be based both on the curricula, publications and
   other relevant documents submitted by the applicants (deadline:
   September 30, 2009) and on an interview that will take place on 9^th
   October 2009 in Turin, Politecnico di Torino, DAUIN, third floor (at
   11:00 AM the selection committee will post the results of the curricula
   examination; interviews will start at 11:30).

Topics of the Interview

   Internet: architecture and main technological characteristics; Elements
   of computer & Internet Law; Economics of innovation and economic
   analysis of law (i.e. elements of the law and economics of innovation);
   the Italian Decree 27/07/2005, n.144 (today law 31 luglio 2005, n. 155)
   and other laws and bills concerning the identification of Internet
   users: effects on innovation, on business models, on privacy and on the
   digital divide in Italy. During the interview, the curriculum of the
   applicant will be discussed (along with the submitted publications and
   other relevant documents) and the degree of proficiency of the
   applicant with respect to the English language will be tested; for
   foreign citizens some basic communications skills in Italian will also
   be tested.

Relevant topics for the applicants' publications and curricula

   Computer & Internet law and interaction between law and digital
   technologies, with special reference to privacy related issues;
   Economic analysis of law (law&economics), with particular reference to
   the interaction between the legal system and innovation; Economics;
   Wi-fi networking, identification and monitoring of users.

Required degree

   The research grant is open to researchers holding one of the following
   degrees:
   Degree in Economics, Statistic Economic and Social Sciences,
   Econometrics, Law, Computer or Software Engineering, Electronic
   Engineering, Engineering of Telecommunications or equivalent foreign
   degrees (please, see the official call LINK for a detailed list of
   admissible degrees).
   Applications from post-doc researchers are appreciated, but holding a
   Ph.D. is not a formal requirement for applicants.

   The official call for applicants (in Italian) will be available at the
   following link:
     * http://www.swas.polito.it/services/concorsi/assric.asp?id_docum
       ento_padre=51803;
     * http://www.swas.polito.it/_library/downloadfile.asp?id=57229
       (direct link to the PDF file).

   Applications should follow the formal procedure described at the above
   mentioned link, but - if you need additional information - please feel
   free to contact the NEXA Center for Internet & Society at the following
   address: info [at] nexa [dot] polito [dot] it, object "Job Opening
   2/2009: Anonimity, Privacy and Access" or call +39 011 564 5956 during
   business hours (CET).





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      Andrea Glorioso || http://people.digitalpolicy.it/sama/cv/
          M: +32-488-409-055         F: +39-051-930-31-133
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