ICS 424: Freedom of expression

1. ICS 424: Freedom of expression Aj. Thoranin Intarajak

2. Agenda. • First amendment rights. • Freedom of expression: Key Issues. • Anonymity. • National security letters. • Defamation and Hate speech. • Pornography.

3. First amendment rights. • The internet enables a worldwide exchange of news, ideas, opinions, rumors and information. • It’s broad accessibility, open-minded discussions, and anonymity make the internet an ideal communications medium. • It provides an easy inexpensive way for a speaker to send a message indiscriminately to a large audience, potentially thousands of people worldwide.

4. First amendment rights (cont). • People must often make ethical decisions about how to use such remarkable freedom and power. • Organization and governments have attempted to establish policies and laws to help guide people as well as to protect their own interests. • The right to freedom of expression is one of the most important rights for free people everywhere.

5. First amendment rights (cont). • The first US amendment. • “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

6. Freedom of expression: Key Issues. • Controlling Access to information on the internet. • The Communications Decency Act (CDA). • CDA allow freer competition among phone, cable, and TV companies. • CDA aimed at protecting children from online pornography. • The Child Online Protection Act (COPA). • COPA makes any communication for commercial purposes that is available to any minor and that includes any material

7. Freedom of expression: Key Issues (cont). • That is harmful to minors shall be fined not more than $50,000, imprisoned not more than 6 months, or both. • Internet Filtering • An internet filtering is software that can be installed with a web browser to block access to certain website that contain inappropriate or offensive material. • The best internet filters use a combination of URL filtering keyword filtering, and dynamic content filtering

8. Freedom of expression: Key Issues (cont). • The popular internet filtering include ContentProtect, CYBERsitter, NetNanny, and CyberPatrol.

9. Anonymity • The principle of anonymous expression allows people to express an opinion without fear of reprisal is an important right of a democratic society. • In the wrong hands, anonymous communication can be used as a tool to commit illegal or unethical activities.

10. National Security Letters • A National Security Letter (NSL) requires financial institutions to turn over electronic records about the finances, telephone calls, e-mail, and other personal information of suspected terrorists or spies. • Recent developments have expanded the scope and power of NSLs to the point that some believe they now represent a treat to freedom of speech.

11. Defamation and Hate Speech • In US, speech that is merely annoying, critical, demeaning, or offensive enjoys protection under the first Amendment. • Legal recourse is possible only when hate speech turns into clear threats and intimidation against specific citizens.

12. Pornography • Many adults and free-speech advocates believe that nothing is illegal or wrong about purchasing adult pornographic material made for and by consenting adults. • On the other hand, most parents, educators, and other child advocates are upset by the thought of children viewing pornography. • They are deeply concerned about its impact on children and fear that increasingly easy access to pornography encourages pedophiles and sexual molesters

13. Pornography (con) • The internet has been a boon to the pornography industry by providing fast, cheap, and convenient access to more than 60000 web sex sites. • About one in four regular internet users (almost 21 million Americans) visits a Web sex site at least once a month more than the number of visitors to web sports sites.

14. Question?