Interesting People mailing list archives
The Internet vs. the Real World (was "Online Freedom of Speech ...")
From: David Farber <dave () farber net>
Date: Sun, 6 Nov 2005 12:40:04 -0500
Begin forwarded message: From: Lauren Weinstein <lauren () vortex com> Date: November 6, 2005 11:57:17 AM EST To: dave () farber net Cc: lauren () vortex comSubject: The Internet vs. the Real World (was "Online Freedom of Speech ...")
Dave, Without delving into details either pro or con on specific issues, it's worth pointing out the underlying factor that seems to be key to so many of these very emotional debates regarding the Internet. Many persons would prefer to see the Internet exist in a sort of virtual space apart from conventional laws and governments in many cases, while other parties feel very much the opposite. A given entity's positions on this may also vary on a case by case basis. We see such concerns come into play with: - Copyright - Internet Governance - Campaign Finance Laws - Libel, Slander, and Fraud - Free Speech and Anonymity - Wiretapping, Tracking, and Other Surveillance - Privacy ... etc. Depending on the specific topic, various groups ranging from hardcore free-speech advocates to law enforcement agencies feel either that physical world laws and rules shouldn't or can't apply in the same way when dealing with the Internet -- or conversely, that they must be applied in as similar a manner as possible. Even trying to agree on the baselines and definitions for such comparisons has proven to be problematic. I don't offer a panacea for this situation, merely the observation that this sort of "clash between worlds" is in large part responsible for the sorts of emotional "pushbacks" we see related to so many of these topics -- reactions that otherwise might seem overwrought, confusing, or even incomprehensible to many casual observers. And it's going to get a lot more complex and contentious. This is only the beginning. --Lauren-- Lauren Weinstein lauren () pfir org or lauren () vortex com or lauren () eepi org Tel: +1 (818) 225-2800 http://www.pfir.org/lauren Co-Founder, PFIR - People For Internet Responsibility - http://www.pfir.org Co-Founder, EEPI - Electronic Entertainment Policy Initiative - http://www.eepi.org Moderator, PRIVACY Forum - http://www.vortex.com Member, ACM Committee on Computers and Public Policy Lauren's Blog: http://lauren.vortex.com DayThink: http://daythink.vortex.com - - -
Begin forwarded message: From: Cliff Bamford <bamford () oz net> Date: November 5, 2005 9:24:50 PM EST To: 'David Farber' <dave () farber net> Subject: RE: Democrats HELP defeat Online Freedom of Speech Act in House [fs] Reply-To: bamford () oz net
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- The Internet vs. the Real World (was "Online Freedom of Speech ...") David Farber (Nov 06)