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Public Interest Computer Association (PICA)

Type:

Technology Advocacy
Founder:

Marc Rotenberg

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The Public Interest Computer Association (PICA) was a technology-policy advocacy group founded in 1983 by Marc Rotenberg, who later became a leading left-of-center figure on technology privacy and policy issues. 1 2

History

A 1983 New York Times article describes Rotenberg and PICA as playing a leading role in helping lobbying and public affairs organizations better use computers for their services. Rotenberg was publishing a journal at the time in addition to running PICA and created what the Times described as “lectures on social issues concerning computers.” He was also advising managers, researchers, and others at lobbying groups on using computer systems, and was putting programs together for clients. The Times quoted an attorney at the ACLU as saying that Rotenberg’s efforts could make him “the single most important figure in the public interest movement since Ralph Nader,” who himself was a major left-of-center advocacy figure for decades. 3

The Washington Post highlighted PICA for created a computer program that matches volunteer technical professionals and nonprofit organizations. 4 In 1986, PICA was one of many organizations which signed a letter expressing concerns about intellectual property rights as technology advanced. 5 PICA also signed a letter that was cited by a federal court in 1988 as critical of the court’s allowance of extra time for industry and other participants in a lawsuit to file paperwork and opinions regarding a lawsuit. The court defended itself as being “extremely liberal in allowing…every other interested party almost unlimited opportunities” on the case, because the case concerned the burgeoning technology industry. 6

PICA provided its consulting services well into the 1990s, especially for environmental groups. 7 It was prominently cited in a 1993 report by environmentalism advocates, in which one group specifically used a grant to hire PICA. 8  In 1992, it hosted several events surrounding burgeoning technology issues, including at least one event at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. 9

Leadership

Marc Rotenberg founded the Public Interest Computer Association. In 2015, he described himself as interested in the intersection of human rights and technology as an undergraduate and teaching fellow at Harvard College. He started the Public Interest Computer Association afterwards and claims to have “designed the first human rights database to track human rights abuses in El Salvador.” He continued his education at Stanford Law School and his activism as a board member for the Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility. He then worked as legal counsel for U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) on law and technology issues, and started the Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility’s Washington, D.C. office. 10

In 2018, Rotenberg criticized left-of-center groups and the overall movement for, in his opinion, leaving progressive values behind as technology culture, economy, and policies advanced. 11 Rotenberg was mentioned in a 1998 Los Angeles Times column “High-Tech Heroes Who Work for the Public Good.” 12

He has co-founded a number of other technology groups, holds an adjunct professorship at Georgetown University, and has testified to legislative bodies in the U.S. and abroad, including more than 60 times to the U.S. Congress. 13

Richard Civille

Richard Civille was a program manager for PICA, and was prominent in its communications with outside organizations. 14 15  Civille was cited in a 1998 Los Angeles Times column as “High-Tech Heroes Who Work for the Public Good.” 16

References

  1. “About ACM Policy Award.” ACM. Accessed August 21, 2023. https://awards.acm.org/policy
  2. Marc Rotenberg Larry Irving. “Twenty-Five Years Later: What Happened to Progressive Tech Policy?” The Washington Spectator. January 22, 2018. Accessed August 21, 2023. https://washingtonspectator.org/rotenberg-tech-policy/
  3. David Burnham. “New Took for Public Affairs Lobbies.” The New York Times. August 26, 1983. Accessed August 21, 2023. https://www.nytimes.com/1983/08/26/us/new-tool-for-public-affairs-lobbies.html
  4. “Cellmark To Test DNA Analysis Labs.” The Washington Post. April 29, 1991. Accessed August 21, 2023. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1991/04/29/cellmark-to-test-dna-analysis-labs/b05e0d04-fa46-4703-b5bc-f0f0d53b75c6/
  5. Intellectual Property Rights in an Age of Electronics and Information.” Library of Congress. April 1986. Accessed August 21, 2023. https://www.princeton.edu/~ota/disk2/1986/8610/861001.PDF
  6. United States v. Western Electric Co., Inc., Justia U.S. Law. June 22, 1988. Accessed August 21, 2023. https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/FSupp/690/22/2359183/
  7.  W.J. Rohwedder. “Computer-Aided Environmental Education.” North American Association for Environmental Education. Accessed August 21, 2023.https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED328441.pdf
  8. Gary Bass, Alair MacLean. “Enhancing the Public’s Right-to-Know about Environmental Issues.” Charles Widger School of Law. 1993. Accessed August 21, 2023. https://digitalcommons.law.villanova.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=&httpsredir=1&article=1266&context=elj
  9. Richard Civille, Marc Rotenberg. “Dear George, We are writing…” Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility. January 30, 1992. Accessed August 21, 2023. https://web.asc.upenn.edu/gerbner/Asset.aspx?assetID=1376
  10. Marc Rotenberg. “Application Form – Special Rapporteur on the right to privacy.” United Nations Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights. Accessed August 21, 2023. https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ohchr.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2FDocuments%2FHRBodies%2FSP%2FCallApplications%2FHRC29%2FPrivacy%2FROTENBERGMarc.doc&wdOrigin=BROWSELINK
  11. Marc Rotenberg Larry Irving. “Twenty-Five Years Later: What Happened to Progressive Tech Policy?” The Washington Spectator. January 22, 2018. Accessed August 21, 2023. https://washingtonspectator.org/rotenberg-tech-policy/
  12. Gary Chapman. “High-Tech Heroes Who Work for the Public Good.” Los Angeles Times. October 26, 1998. Accessed August 21, 2023. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-oct-26-fi-36254-story.html
  13. “Marc Rotenberg.” Georgetown Law. Accessed August 21, 2023. https://www.law.georgetown.edu/faculty/marc-rotenberg/
  14. W.J. Rohwedder. “Computer-Aided Environmental Education.” North American Association for Environmental Education. Accessed August 21, 2023. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED328441.pdf
  15. Richard Civille, Marc Rotenberg. “Dear George, We are writing…” Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility. January 30, 1992. Accessed August 21, 2023. https://web.asc.upenn.edu/gerbner/Asset.aspx?assetID=1376
  16. Gary Chapman. “High-Tech Heroes Who Work for the Public Good.” Los Angeles Times. October 26, 1998. Accessed August 21, 2023. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-oct-26-fi-36254-story.html
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