Monday, July 7, 2008
Free Speech and Online Spaces
Wow, I really want to comment on my reading in Social Software in Libraries but I keep coming across these other really interesting issues related to class. For example, the Associated Press reported in an article today the fact that the first amendment (specifically free speech) and other constitutional rights are not guaranteed on the Internet. I found the article by Anick Jesdanun entitled, "Free speech not a given on "public" online spaces" on page 2A of Boulder's newspaper, The Daily Camera. See, you can rant and rave all you want in a public park without being censored. Your first amendment rights kick in there. But, rant and rave online, and the service provider can cut you off. The service provider controls content that might be controversial but otherwise legal. Hhmmmm....that means that the Web is not truly a "public space" since companies like Yahoo can prescreen, refuse or remove content. Food for thought....as the online community becomes more central to public discourse around the world, it actually remains far from a truly public doman.
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2 comments:
Whoa- this is really an interesting idea. But it makes sense when you hear stories about China or other countries filtering a whole country's content. Thanks for the resources- I'd like chat with you more about this in class so I understand it better.
The interesting part will be when people start to fight for the right to use free speach. This must be connected to the idea that an enviroment is nt specific to the USA. Meaning that just becouse we have the freedom of speach that does not mean others do and this is how they monitor it. Crazy that this simple line that could bring the world together can't because we can't say what needs to be said.
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