Topic Summary
The US constitution guarantees freedom of speech. You can pretty much
say anything. Computers and the Internet have vastly enabled expression
of ideas. Anybody, anywhere, can publish their ideas and potentially
have an audience of millions. This raises the question whether current
laws affecting publication and the media are too antiquated to be
effective. Can we apply laws developed for radio/TV broadcasts to the
Internet ? By some
estimates,
over 50% of Web traffic involves pornography. What is the best way to
protect children from inapproriate exposure to Web sites ? When the Web
is used to commit a crime, as in luring children or adults into
dangerous situations, does the internet service provider bear any
responsibility ? How about the school or library where the browser was
used ? Is anonymity on the web
feasible
? Is it desirable ?
Required Reading
Chapter 5, Sections 5.1 - 5.5,
A Gift of Fire.