Christine Axsmith Affair
Encyclopedia
Christine Axsmith is a computer security
expert who was fired from BAE Systems
, a CIA contractor, for posting on a top-secret internal government blog
that "waterboarding
is torture, and torture is wrong".
Axsmith has been published by the International Bar Association
, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
(M.I.T.) and the American Bar Association
. Her research is included in an annotated bibliography published by the World Bank
entitled "International Initiatives Towards Harmonisation in the field of Funds Transfers, Payments, Payment Systems, and Securities Settlements."
Axsmith graduated from Drexel University
in 1987. She then attended the Columbus School of Law
at The Catholic University of America
in Washington, DC and graduated in 1990. Through her work with the American Bar Association, Axsmith was published at the Computers, Freedom and Privacy Conference
at M.I.T. and her published articles on Export Restrictions on Encryption became required reading at Harvard Law School
. Axsmith sat on the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law in the Electronic Commerce Working Group.
In July 2006, after denouncing the practice of torture and waterboarding on an internal CIA blog, she was fired from BAE Systems
and her Intelligence career ended. Axsmith began practicing elder law and real estate law in the District of Columbia beginning in January 2007. She sits on the Fiduciary Panel for the Superior Court of the District of Columbia
where she is appointed to represent the elderly and disabled.
Computer security
Computer security is a branch of computer technology known as information security as applied to computers and networks. The objective of computer security includes protection of information and property from theft, corruption, or natural disaster, while allowing the information and property to...
expert who was fired from BAE Systems
BAE Systems
BAE Systems plc is a British multinational defence, security and aerospace company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, that has global interests, particularly in North America through its subsidiary BAE Systems Inc. BAE is among the world's largest military contractors; in 2009 it was the...
, a CIA contractor, for posting on a top-secret internal government blog
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
that "waterboarding
Waterboarding
Waterboarding is a form of torture in which water is poured over the face of an immobilized captive, thus causing the individual to experience the sensation of drowning...
is torture, and torture is wrong".
Axsmith has been published by the International Bar Association
International Bar Association
The International Bar Association is an international association of lawyers and lawyers' associations. The IBA's stated purpose is to promote an exchange of information between legal associations worldwide, support the independence of the judiciary and the right of lawyers to practice their...
, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
(M.I.T.) and the American Bar Association
American Bar Association
The American Bar Association , founded August 21, 1878, is a voluntary bar association of lawyers and law students, which is not specific to any jurisdiction in the United States. The ABA's most important stated activities are the setting of academic standards for law schools, and the formulation...
. Her research is included in an annotated bibliography published by the World Bank
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
entitled "International Initiatives Towards Harmonisation in the field of Funds Transfers, Payments, Payment Systems, and Securities Settlements."
Axsmith graduated from Drexel University
Drexel University
Drexel University is a private research university with the main campus located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. It was founded in 1891 by Anthony J. Drexel, a noted financier and philanthropist. Drexel offers 70 full-time undergraduate programs and accelerated degrees...
in 1987. She then attended the Columbus School of Law
Columbus School of Law
The Columbus School of Law, also known as CUA Law, is the law school of The Catholic University of America, in Washington, D.C..Over 900 Juris Doctor students attend CUA Law. Incoming classes are typically composed of two to three hundred students, including day and night programs. Around 3,500...
at The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America is a private university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States. It is a pontifical university of the Catholic Church in the United States and the only institution of higher education founded by the U.S. Catholic bishops...
in Washington, DC and graduated in 1990. Through her work with the American Bar Association, Axsmith was published at the Computers, Freedom and Privacy Conference
Computers, Freedom and Privacy Conference
The Computers, Freedom and Privacy Conference is an annual academic conference held in the USA or Canada about the intersection of computer technology, freedom, and privacy issues....
at M.I.T. and her published articles on Export Restrictions on Encryption became required reading at Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
. Axsmith sat on the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law in the Electronic Commerce Working Group.
In July 2006, after denouncing the practice of torture and waterboarding on an internal CIA blog, she was fired from BAE Systems
BAE Systems
BAE Systems plc is a British multinational defence, security and aerospace company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, that has global interests, particularly in North America through its subsidiary BAE Systems Inc. BAE is among the world's largest military contractors; in 2009 it was the...
and her Intelligence career ended. Axsmith began practicing elder law and real estate law in the District of Columbia beginning in January 2007. She sits on the Fiduciary Panel for the Superior Court of the District of Columbia
Superior Court of the District of Columbia
The Superior Court of the District of Columbia is the local trial court for the District of Columbia. It hears cases involving criminal and civil law. The court also handles specialized cases in the following areas: family court, landlord and tenant, probate, tax, and traffic offenses...
where she is appointed to represent the elderly and disabled.