What is so bad about Internet content regulation?

Author: Weckert J.

Source: Ethics and Information Technology, Volume 2, Number 2, 2000 , pp. 105-111(7)

Publisher: Springer

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Abstract:

Legislation was recently introduced into the Australian parliament to regulate the Internet. This created a storm of protest from within the computer industry, where arguments against the legislation ranged from those based on technical difficulties to those based on moral considerations, particularly of freedom of speech and freedom to access information. This paper is primarily concerned with the moral aspects of Internet regulation, but within the parameters of current technology. It will argue that such regulation can be justified, despite the fact that given the current technology there will be difficulties with enforcement, and reduction in Internet performance.

Keywords: censorship; freedom of expression; freedom of speech; harm; Internet; regulation

Language: English

Document Type: Regular paper

Affiliations: 1: Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics, Charles Sturt University, NSW 2675, Australia (E-mail: jweckert@csu.edu.au)

Publication date: 2000-01-01