1. 2 billion people are now online - please create a detailed blog entry about why the internet is so important as our public space. Please incorporate the readings and videos from above into your entry. Also, please include your thoughts on the report from the Center for a New American Security and how you would describe what it's like to live in the digital age. How important is it to preserve Internet freedom? How does Social Media affect Internet freedom? 4. Please comment on three of your classmates recent blog entries. Email me with the names of the blogs you commented on.
When the Bill of Rights outlines America's Freedom of Speech, the writers did not know that in 2011, Americans would be communicating in an entirely new way via the Internet. The twist in this issue comes with the fact that the Internet is not just an American phenomenon but rather permeates the entire world. How then can we have one utility (the Internet) handled in a manner that is consistent across the world while protecting the American right to free speech? That is where it gets a little messy. Clinton, in her speech, illustrates the importance of open online communication in light of the revolutions occurring around the world that are utilizing social media. Companies such as Google, Microsoft, Yahoo, Facebook, Twitter, and even RIM (Blackberry) are under fire by the international community for not respecting their country's policies on restricted communications and censorship. Well why should they since Americans and the companies of America are afforded the right of free speech... um... even if they are operating in um... other countries... oh.... that's different... I think. Clinton paints an interesting picture here. She is basically saying that no matter what form of government a country is operating under, they should democratize their communication. As much as I am personally all for this approach, it just isn't realistic. If the UAE, Iran, China, and other countries open up their communication channels to their own citizen with the entire world, we will see many more Egypt scenarios and these governments know it.
There is legislations that has been making its rounds know as the net neutrality act. In my opinion, this is a dangerous road to even consider let alone build. Then once we are traveling on this road, we are all screwed. It is absolutely necessary that the internet remain open and unrestricted just like electricity and water. This is a utility by which so much of our country operates and it is permeating our economy, culture, and social fabric more every day. We must preserve it because it is the foundation of so much more than I can even explain here but to give you a start, thinking about financial trading, e-commerce, communications, manufacturing, humanitarian efforts, education, supply chains, energy, entertainment, etc. All of these aspects of the world and many more rely on the internet. Social media is a rapidly growing slice of the internet that is not only opening new channels of communication, but it is also going to be the mechanism by which we can hold governments, politicians, corporations, and each other accountable. Social media also goes beyond this in other ways such as measuring and understanding consumer behavior and communication patters but the core will still be accountability when it comes to communication.
I cannot access the CNAS report for some reason and will try to follow up on that tomorrow.
I agree with your comment that it is unrealistic for America to mandate freedom of speech via the internet on other countries. I wrote about the same thing in my blog. It's odd that America thinks we can regulatate this utility and I think the $25 million being spent on this technology could be used in a different manner...in a more responsible manner to American citizens. I enjoyed your comments! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThat is a idea that i didnt even think of! What would they think or do if when they were writing the freedom of speech act if they know what would be incorperated into that in todays society? Would they even pass it or make it less of a general statement if they know what freedom of speech would intail in todays society not only in the U.S. but in the world as a whole. I think that freedom of speech is one of the most benificial things we can have in todays society with the internet especially but would they have drawn a line in that act that would have affected todays rights and rules.
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