Computer Professionals for
Computer Professionals for
Social Responsibility
Social Responsibility
What is CPSR What is CPSR HistoryHistory MissionMission ProjectsProjects Why join Why join
Who can join Who can join
Membership benefitsMembership benefits
How to become a memberHow to become a member Chapters Chapters
What is CPSR
What is CPSR
Alliance of computer scientists and others
Alliance of computer scientists and others
concerned about the impact of computer
concerned about the impact of computer
technology on society.
technology on society.
An organization that supports the use of
An organization that supports the use of
technology to improve the quality of life.
technology to improve the quality of life.
An organization that examine social and
An organization that examine social and
technical issues within the computer
technical issues within the computer
profession, both nationally and
profession, both nationally and
internationally.
History
History
1981 - A group of 1981 - A group of
computer researchers
computer researchers
at Xerox PARC meet
at Xerox PARC meet
to discuss forming an
to discuss forming an
organization that will
organization that will
"help them integrate
"help them integrate
their work life with
their work life with
their social concerns."
their social concerns."
1982 - The discussion 1982 - The discussion
group holds a public
group holds a public
meeting at Stanford to
meeting at Stanford to
define issues and goals
define issues and goals
for a new organization
for a new organization
called Computer
called Computer
Professionals for
Professionals for
Social Responsibility.
History
History
1983 - CPSR files 1983 - CPSR files
formal incorporation formal incorporation
papers and becomes a papers and becomes a nonprofit organization. nonprofit organization.
President Reagan President Reagan
announces the announces the
Strategic Defense Strategic Defense
Initiative, it becomes Initiative, it becomes
CPSR's principal focus CPSR's principal focus
for several years. for several years.
The first issue of the The first issue of the
CPSR Newsletter
CPSR Newsletter
appears.
appears.
CPSR opens its first CPSR opens its first
five chapters
five chapters
1985 - CPSR hires 1985 - CPSR hires
Gary Chapman as its
Gary Chapman as its
first Executive
first Executive
Director.
History
History
1986 - CPSR/Boston 1986 - CPSR/Boston
produces Reliability produces Reliability
and Risk, a slide show and Risk, a slide show
about the dangers of about the dangers of
overreliance on overreliance on
computing technology computing technology
in national defense. in national defense.
CPSR/Palo Alto forms CPSR/Palo Alto forms
a working group on a working group on
computers in the computers in the
workplace. workplace.
1987 - CPSR holds 1987 - CPSR holds
its first research
its first research
conference on conference on "Directions and "Directions and Implications of Implications of Advanced Computing Advanced Computing (DIAC). (DIAC).
CPSR's first book, CPSR's first book,
Computers in Battle, is
Computers in Battle, is
published.
History
History
In March 1993, a new In March 1993, a new
project centered
project centered
around the National
around the National
Information
Information
Infrastructure (NII)
Infrastructure (NII)
proposed by the
proposed by the
Clinton/Gore
Clinton/Gore
administration.
administration.
A Public-Interest A Public-Interest
Vision of the National
Vision of the National
Information
Information
Infrastructure," was
Infrastructure," was
published in
published in
September 1993 and
September 1993 and
has received excellent
has received excellent
reviews from
reviews from
policymakers.
History
History
In June 1994, the In June 1994, the
Electronic Privacy
Electronic Privacy
Information Center
Information Center
(EPIC), a joint project
(EPIC), a joint project
of CPSR and the Fund
of CPSR and the Fund
for Constitutional
for Constitutional
Government.
Government.
At the end of 1994, a At the end of 1994, a
CPSR supporter made
CPSR supporter made
a large, one-time
a large, one-time
donation consisting of
donation consisting of
5,000 shares of FTP
5,000 shares of FTP
Software, a company
Software, a company
cofounded in the
cofounded in the
1980s.
Mission
Mission
Influence decisions Influence decisions
regarding the regarding the
development and use development and use
of computers of computers
Provide the public and Provide the public and
policymakers with policymakers with
realistic assessments of realistic assessments of
the power, promise, the power, promise,
and limitations of and limitations of
computer technology. computer technology.
To dispel popular To dispel popular
myths about the
myths about the
infallibility of
infallibility of
technological systems.
technological systems.
Challenge the Challenge the
assumption that
assumption that
technology alone can
technology alone can
solve political and
solve political and
social problems.
Projects
Projects
The National The National
Information
Information
Infrastructure
Infrastructure
Civil Liberties and Civil Liberties and
Privacy
Privacy
Computers in the Computers in the
Workplace
Workplace
Technology Policy and Technology Policy and
Human Needs
Human Needs
Reliability and Risk of Reliability and Risk of
Computer-Based
Computer-Based
Systems
Systems
There are also There are also
chapter-based projects
chapter-based projects
and national working
and national working
groups projects.
Why join
Why join
You would be part of a nationwide network of
You would be part of a nationwide network of
concerned people who are committed to
concerned people who are committed to
bringing a public interest perspective to all
bringing a public interest perspective to all
aspects of information technology
aspects of information technology
CPSR has a reputation for being on the
CPSR has a reputation for being on the
forefront of issues pertaining to the impact of
forefront of issues pertaining to the impact of
information technology on society, taking
information technology on society, taking
action to implement positive examples for
action to implement positive examples for
todays information technology
Who can join
Who can join
Anyone who is concerned about and would
Anyone who is concerned about and would
like to be part of how “ Information
like to be part of how “ Information
technology affects our society.”
Membership benefits
Membership benefits
You have the opportunity to be involved
You have the opportunity to be involved
with making changes on how interaction
with making changes on how interaction
with today’s technology, impacts our daily
with today’s technology, impacts our daily
lives.
lives.
Members take an active role. We speak at
Members take an active role. We speak at
conferences and legislative meetings; write
conferences and legislative meetings; write
articles, journals and books.
articles, journals and books.
How to become a member
How to become a member
Chapters
Chapters
Austin , Berkeley, Boston , Chicago,
Austin , Berkeley, Boston , Chicago,
Denver-Boulder, Georgia ,Los Angeles,
Denver-Boulder, Georgia ,Los Angeles,
Madison, Maine, Michigan, Milwaukee ,
Madison, Maine, Michigan, Milwaukee ,
Minnesota
Minnesota
New Haven, Loyola /New Orleans,
New Haven, Loyola /New Orleans,
New York, Palo Alto, Philadelphia ,
New York, Palo Alto, Philadelphia ,
Pittsburgh, Portland, San Diego, Santa Cruz,
Pittsburgh, Portland, San Diego, Santa Cruz,
Seattle, Washington, D.C.
Privacy
Privacy
In 1986, CPSR broadened its national
In 1986, CPSR broadened its national
program to include the Privacy and Civil
program to include the Privacy and Civil
Liberties Program,which established a
Liberties Program,which established a
Washington office in 1987.
Washington office in 1987.
The CPSR membership database is never
The CPSR membership database is never
sold, rented, lent, exchanged, or used for
sold, rented, lent, exchanged, or used for
anything other than official CPSR activity.
anything other than official CPSR activity.
CPSR may elect to send members mailings
CPSR may elect to send members mailings
with information from other groups, but
with information from other groups, but
the mailings will always originate with
the mailings will always originate with
CPSR
