Free Essay Internet Regulation

Konvict · Uploaded by **Konvict** on Dec 31, 2005

Internet Regulation

It is a documented estimation that almost one-third of all American homes now have at least one personal computer. Along with that staggering stat, the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science has reported that 95% of the public has access to the Internet. Our society has been able to make these great advances, obviously along with many more important others, due to that fact that every American poses certain unalienable rights. Now in this new Millennium, the very innovation which has grown into the majority of American lives is the focus of a debate which questions our fundamental right to freedom of speech. The Federal Government should not regulate the Internet because that is not the Governments job. Internet Regulation should be left up to Parental guidance and local organizations but most of all, not left to the professional politicians.

Raising kids is the job of the parents or guardians who are legally responsible for the children, not the job of the Federal Government. The Cyberspace age has arrived at lightning speed. Children and young people are among the most active citizens of this new era, and are often the first in their family to use the Internet. These days, it is important for parents, schools and communities to take a pro-active approach in making our newest form of communication safe for the children. The best way to assure that your children are using the "net" in a positive way is to stay in touch with what they are doing. One important way to do this is for the parents to spend time with their children while they're online.

While children and teenagers need a certain amount of privacy, they also need parental involvement and supervision in their daily lives. The same general parenting skills that apply to the "real world" also apply while online. A great example would be to view the "Net" like the street. Even though there are police officers that protect our kids in the real world, you still don't leave them unattended to walk up and down the street where they can be hit by a car. It's the same way on the Information Superhighway. You don't leave your children unattended to walk up and down it, and when they are older you teach them to look both ways before they cross the street.

Many people seem to confuse parents into believing that the Internet is ultimately a large scary place just waiting to harm their children. Many do not realize that the only way for the child to be exposed to the "bad stuff" is for the child to personally make the choice to view the material. The computer does not make the choices for itself, it is not capable, all it does is do what the child tells it to. In there lies the root of the problem, the problem which is the parents responsibility to correct during the child's growth process. When the child is being raised it should be taught right from wrong by the parents not the Government.

Many say that it takes a village to raise a child: well that village should be located within the child's community not in Washington D.C. Some Americans want to make it illegal to give Web surfers at public schools and libraries access to the Web without using filters. Some states and counties already have such laws in place, and Congress is considering bills that could make this a federal law. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), People for the American Way, American Library Association, and many other advocates of free speech oppose these bills.

Most people agree that children and teenagers shouldn't come across adult material like pornography or get into potentially dangerous situations on the Web, but they disagree about how kids should be protected. It is simply not right for the Government to create a "cover all" law which would effect every library and school in the Nation. Many are against "Net" Regulation on libraries and schools because there is no product(or filter) out on the market which is a cure all. And in a place where the free flow of information is imperative, tax payers can not afford to spend money on something which hurts the community more than it helps. There are hundreds of examples of software blocking harmless and even helpful information accidentally and on purpose. A few of many examples would be filters that block;

Quest4Glory · Joined: 05 Jul 2004 Comments: 112

"XXX," will also block Superbowl XXX sites,

"breast" will also block breast cancer discussion groups,

the consecutive letters "S" "E" and "X" will block "Mars exploration" (ACLU, Censorship in a Box). "If former Surgeon general C. Everett Koop's specific recommendations for preventing AIDS were placed on the Internet...,those responsible could be fined up to $50,000 for each day of the violation and sent to prison for up to six months for 'knowingly' communicating for 'commercial purposes' material judged 'harmful to minors'"(Hentoff 2-3).

As stated earlier, people may in fact need help to raise their kids but the people to help should be those who are in the same situation. Local organizations like Library Boards and School Boards may find it appropriate to have a community debate and vote over local filters. This situation is much different than having the Federal Government mandate a certain way of living. A community coming together to agree upon a way to raise and protect their children is ideal, the Federal Government imposing mandatory Internet filters is Censorship.

Many Politicians have tried to pass Internet Regulation legislation through Congress, but all have failed due to the Constitutionality of their Bill proposals. Contrary to the manner in which many legislators and news reports have depicted it, the Internet is an appropriate and useful information tool for children and young adults. Educators have realized this for years and worked diligently to create and promote increasing numbers of school resources available on the Internet. Unfortunately, these innovative efforts do not receive the same widespread media coverage that reports of pornography on the Internet have garnered. Unfortunately, Pornography is all that Politicians respond to. Because the many people who have never used the Internet may base their understanding of the "Net" solely on the negative stories they have read in the popular press, or heard about on television, they may perceive the Internet as unsafe for children. Once again, the professional politician sees the coverage which Internet Regulation receives and is drawn to the spot - light. The Politician does not draw up an Internet Regulation Proposal because he wants to protect the freedoms of all Americans, but rather he wants to be re - elected.

All Internet Regulation Bills have either died in Congress or has been shot down by the Supreme Count due to Constitution violations. Former Speaker of the House , Newt Gingrich was right in stating, " It is clearly a violation of free speech and it's a violation of the rights of adults to communicate with each other...How do you maintain the right of free speech for adults while also protecting children in a medium which is available to both?"

Senator Leahy said it best in stating, "None of us is in favor of pornography. But we can not accomplish the goal of keeping pornography away from children without imposing a big new layer of government censorship and without destroying the Internet." The true job of a Federal Government is to protect the rights of the people, not protect the people from their rights.

The First Amendment of the United States Constitution clearly states that all American citizens have the right of free speech. Although Internet Regulation seems like it would solve everyone's problem, nothing is further from the truth. In the year 2001 people are still trying to pass their responsibilities on to anyone but themselves. This time they have chosen the Federal Government, a mistake on their part, to say the least. Only parents and local communities should be responsible for Internet Regulation not Washington D.C. The Federal Government should not regulate the Internet because that is not the Governments job.

gurlyguy · Joined: 16 Feb 2007 Comments: 24 Location: Iowa

the internet has its pros and cons it just depends on how use use it and how well you know it! some advice: KNOW WHAT YOUR DOING BEFORE YOU PUSH ENTER!

~Jay~