Cloud Computing Is Subject of Fierce Debate

Last month, Richard Stallman, the founder of the free software movement, came out swinging against the concept of cloud computing. His rant was reported by the Guardian newspaper, and a debate in the blogosphere ensued. Stallman argues that users will lose control of their programs, their data and their privacy.

Read the rest of this post


comments so far. Add yours.

  • http://webdesignmiami.pervasivepersuasion.com Bruce Arnold

    Cloud Computing and Corporate Culpability

    Re: Cloud Computing Security Risks and Accountability for Loss of Data, Breach of Privacy and Other Violations

    I am not a lawyer. I don’t play one on television. And after my last divorce, I have no motivation to further enrich any member of the legal profession. Nevertheless, my first and best advice to any American business executive considering “cloud computing”, “SaaS” or “PaaS” as cost-cutting solutions in recessionary times is GET THEE TO AN ATTORNEY!

    Regardless of who wins the White House next Tuesday–Oblabla and the Mouth, or Geezer and Gidget–and no matter what remuda of Republocrats controls our Congress thereafter, the recently exposed excesses of Wall Street’s Bonus Buccaneer CEOs guarantee increased scrutiny and accountability for executives at all levels and in all arenas, including and perhaps especially that of the CIO. In such a charged political environment, any harm, damage, loss or breach of HIPAA or other privacy mandates attributable to corporate decisions to outsource sensitive information for bottom-line benefit is likely to have repercussions that go far beyond reversing any perceived savings. And when time comes for the ax to fall in the boardroom–or worse, the gavel in the courtroom–rest assured that your cries to blame the Data Manager in Mumbai will fall on deaf ears.

    Bruce Arnold, Miami Web Designer
    WebDesignMiami.PervasivePersuasion.com

  • Sam Harrison

    software will exist on the client and in the cloud — there is no war between the two…NEXT item on the agenda?

About Voices

This is a section of the AllThingsD Web site featuring posts that have been curated from around the Web: pieces we’ve read, discussions we’ve followed, stuff we like. Five posts are included here each weekday, but only the headline and the first two sentences. We link to the original site for the rest. The section is explicitly labeled, so it’s clear that content comes “from other Web sites.”

We also solicit original full-length posts and accept some unsolicited submissions. Voices is edited by Beth Callaghan.

Dive Into Media

Latest Video

View all videos »

Search »