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Thinking about tech challenges to free speech. New technologies always challenge old regulatory regimes—print, telegraph, telephone, radio, internet Why is it important? Neil Postman—the dominant technology in an age has a profound influence on what passes for Truth in that age…
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Thinking about tech challenges to free speech • New technologies always challenge old regulatory regimes—print, telegraph, telephone, radio, internet • Why is it important? Neil Postman—the dominant technology in an age has a profound influence on what passes for Truth in that age… • Indecency hits the airwaves—FCC v. Pacifica Foundation (1978)--pervasiveness, obscenity, broadcast regulation
Technology Cases • ACLU v. Reno I--June 1997, 7-2, found CDA unconstitutional, internet is like print • States attempt to control the internet • American Library Assoc. v. Pataki--NY suit, nearly identical to CDA • ACLU v. Miller--tried to ban anonymous speech on the web, unconstitutional • ACLU v. Reno II--June 1998, 3-0 Circuit Court ruling, Child Online Protection Act is unconstitutional, imposes burden on speech protected for adults
Why is the Internet Different? • Infinite number of information sources • Lack of gatekeepers • Parity among senders and receivers • Extraordinarily low cost • Jurisdictional problems
Technology and the First Amendment • The naïve view--the Internet as the flowering of the marketplace of idea • First amendment concerns • Pornography (Rimm study, CDA, COPA) • Privacy Issues (kids and cookies) • Spam--unsolicited mass email • what about controls on non-commercial email? Hamidi v. Intel • Library access and filtering (TN solution)