A SETI metapolicy: New directions towards comprehensive policies concerning the detection of extraterrestrial intelligence

Stephen Baxter; John Elliott

doi:10.1016/j.actaastro.2011.09.016

A SETI metapolicy: New directions towards comprehensive policies concerning the detection of extraterrestrial intelligence

Stephen Baxter^*, John Elliott

^*Corresponding author for this work

School of Computer Science

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

9 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

At present we have only one agreed public policy for handling the detection of an extraterrestrial intelligence (ETI), the 'First SETI Protocol' of 1989, which guides action in the immediate aftermath of detection, even though SETI (the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) constitutes an active search for such a detection. The purpose of this paper is to set out areas in which policies might fruitfully be developed, including reviewing the rationale and investment in SETI, handling ETI artefacts, and approaches to direct contact. 'Negative' possibilities will be examined, for example, whether an ETI artefact or data should be purposefully destroyed.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	31-36
Number of pages	6
Journal	Acta Astronautica
Volume	78
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2011.09.016
Publication status	Published - Sept 2012

Keywords

Active SETI
Diplomacy
Extraterrestrial intelligence
Post-detection
Risk analysis
SETI
SETI protocols

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10.1016/j.actaastro.2011.09.016

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A SETI metapolicy: New directions towards comprehensive policies concerning the detection of extraterrestrial intelligence

Abstract

Keywords

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