OT: [oclug] Responsibility (was POTS -> SIP providers in Canada?)

[Greg]

miden wrote:
> I guess I'm not being clear so I'll try to rephrase.
> 
> We have some very capable programmers on this list and I would like to 
> ask them the following question:
> 
> Would you take possible malicious/criminal use of your software into 
> account while working on a program or project?

You are asking for a technical solution to a moral problem.

Trying to make hammers which can't kill people is foolish.
You need to make it clear that killing people is intolerable.
Then, at the very least, you must scold any who kill with hammers.

The problem is not that VoIP enables people to deceive.
It is that deception is acceptable.
The solution is not to make it impossible, which is impossible,
but to make it unacceptable.

Technology's roles are limited to making deception difficult enough
that it can occur only by intent and not by accident or default;
and to facilitating (rather than impeding) detection and attribution.

The problem is not that MS cannot build a secure operating system.
They choose not to.  And their victims choose to let them.

Greg