Page - 60 - in Critical Issues in Science, Technology and Society Studies - Conference Proceedings of the 17th STS Conference Graz 2018

technologies like the internet varies greatly as per theses values. A universal set of rules cannot be applied without acknowledging this divergence in society. Furthermore, this divergence causes conflict, especially when carried forward to sub-groups within regional societies. Regions characterized by significant ethnic and cultural diversity (viz. Southeast Asia and central Africa) are especially vulnerable to these conflicts. Norms thus have to be adjusted to the needs of a society with an appropriate level of granularity. Risk analysis, when used to deploy the control structure to resolve the dilemmas (and possible conflicts) has the potential of not only reduce the probability of conflict, but also resolve instances of social dilemmas that arise from the proliferation of the WWW by society and its netizens. Value, Risk, and Threats Value. Alaine de Vulpian1 developed a system for determining social value in French society in the 1960s. It was qualitative research, based primarily on in-depth, one-on-one interviews with respondents. Hameed (2011) has suggested a smart data filtration tool (SDF) for web-based education that filters data considered harmful from moral, religious and social perspective in Malaysia. Chung (2007), from S Korea predicted that information technology would serve as a catalyst for changes of society and culture as well as the development for new ways of life; positive or negative depending on how we use it. Without due analysis, incorrect inferences about the role of the internet in society may accrue as a consequence of sensational events. The internet is often characterized as a risk-promoting environment. Risk management involves the identification and prioritization of threats; thus helping the stakeholders to better deal with risk that the netizen faces on the internet, and to provide the stakeholders a platform on which they can resolve their (occasionally) conflicting objectives. This will ultimately lead to increased empowerment for the vulnerable netizen. During my PhD research I used a questionnaire2 (attached at Appendix ‘A’) to prioritize the threats in order of severity in urban India. A similar questionnaire can be used to locally obtain value judgments from the netizen. I posit that value attached to a specific issue is characterized by being primarily local – and highly temporal. It is critical however, to ascertain the value quotient of a social dilemma vis-à-vis the internet if the dilemma is to be resolved; primarily because the resolution involves the deployment of controls that require resources. Risk analysis, (a methodology under the overall realm of risk management) is used to determine the optimal deployment of these resources. Risk Analysis. Among the several interpretations of risk detailed by Althus (ibid.), I choose the one where risk is the threat of a detrimental eventuality, the nature and extent of which can be stochastically forecast. For the framework, a methodology to ‘operationalize’ risk analysis is 1 The social values assessment methodology developed in the 1960s was invented in response to a wish to understand the evolution and meaning of the spontaneous rejection of traditional values and institutions among youth in French society at that time. Details can be had at http://environicsresearch.com/what-are-social-values 2 The thesis was about the use of risk to protect the rights of the netizen in India. This paper is a continuation of my effort to use the internet for a fulfilled society that is more at peace with itself. 60