Our official mission statement:

CPSR is a public-interest alliance of computer scientists and others concerned about the impact of computer technology on society. We work to influence decisions regarding the development and use of computers because those decisions have far-reaching consequences and reflect our basic values and priorities.

As technical experts, CPSR members provide the public and policy makers with realistic assessments of the power, promise, and limitations of computer technology. As concerned citizens, we direct public attention to critical choices concerning the applications of computing and how those choices affect society.

Every project we undertake is based on five principles:

• We foster and support public discussion of, and public responsibility for decisions involving the use of computers in systems critical to society.
• We work to dispel popular myths about the infallibility of technological systems.
• We challenge the assumption that technology alone can solve political and social problems.
• We critically examine social and technical issues within the computer profession, both nationally and internationally.
• We encourage the use of information technology to improve the quality of life.

This chapter is populated but not currently organizing activities. CPSR members can quickly come to life when approached via cpsr@cpsr.org to rise to the occassion to:

*answer inquiries
*speak with the press
*create and maintain a web page
*create and use a mailing list
*host conferences, panel discussions, speakers, and/or talks
*meet informally to discuss current events
*present expert testimony
*study a local issue
*write and publish, etc. etc. etc.

• Thomas (Federal) Legislative Information Service
• New York Web Sites

Other links of interest:

Hotwired's Hotbot Search Engine
Digital's Altavista Search Engine

Last updated April 2001.
To contact the New York CPSR group, write Bob Pesner