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World-Infostructure Knowledge Base The objective of World-Infostructure's knowledge base is to bring focus to the human dimension of information and communication technologies in a dynamic world of vested interests. It is designed to provide an overview of the status quo, the development and the history of the Infosphere as well as to enhance the visibility of issues of public interest that arise in connection with the emergence of digital media and computer networks. World-Infostructure's research matrix focuses on digitization, globalization, consolidation, integration, concentration, commercialization, participation, cooperation, innovation, emancipation, democratization, diversification, convergence and empowerment and is divided into eight main areas: World-Infostructure: history of communication systems; slaves and expert systems; biometrics; biotechnology convergence Global Networks: development, functioning and administration of global data networks Global Markets: proprietary relationships; issues of regulation Global Brain-Ware: information politics; dynamics of opinion-making Global Content Channels: content production and distribution; public vs. commercial interest; digital copyright; PR and advertising Global Info-Rights: censorship; online activism; disinformation; digital divide Global Security: surveillance, security and control technologies; data protection and cryptography; ECHELON Global Data Bodies: virtualization of social identity; abuse and marketing of personal data All World-Infostructure content is cross-linked and supplemented by so-called Index Cards that provide more detailed information on specific terms and World-Information.Org's Link Base, which is a fast tool for locating independent information and critical analysis on the web and contains several hundred hand-selected URLs that are accompanied by short descriptions and categorized by the eight research areas of World-Infostructure. World-Infostructure presents the results of the research program that has been carried out in connection with World-Information.Org since autumn 1999.  INDEX CARD     RESEARCH MATRIX  Casey, William J. b. March 13, 1913, Elmhurst, Queens, N.Y., U.S. d. May 6, 1987, Glen Cove, N.Y. Powerful and controversial director of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) from 1981 to 1987 during the Ronald Reagan administration. While affiliated with the law firm Rogers & Wells (1976-81), Casey became Reagan's presidential campaign manager and was subsequently awarded the directorship of the CIA in 1981. Under his leadership, covert action increased in such places as Afghanistan, Central America, and Angola, and the agency stepped up its support for various anticommunist insurgent organizations. He was viewed as a pivotal figure in the CIA's secret involvement in the Iran-Contra Affair, in which U.S. weapons were sold to Iran and in which money from the sale was funneled to Nicaraguan rebels, in possible violation of U.S. law. Just before he was to testify in Congress on the matter in December 1986, he suffered seizures and then underwent brain surgery; he died from nervous-system lymphoma without ever testifying.