Should Internet content be regulated?

[cmf21]

If so, by whom? If not, why not? Just wondering after I watch a tv program.

 

[Rallispec]

should it be- yes.

is it possible to regulate it, no.

you'd have to regulate it in every country all over the world... then the 1st admendment rights.... i really just dont think its possibly to regulate something as big as the internet.

 

[b0mbrman]

<< should it be- yes.
is it possible to regulate it, no.
you'd have to regulate it in every country all over the world... then the 1st admendment rights.... i really just dont think its possibly to regulate something as big as the internet. >>



Hmmm...how do you think this relates to newspapers then? Of course, no one regulates the little underground ones that only 10 people read...but I'm sure someone's making sure the NY Times or the Christian Science Monitor watch what they say...

 

[DanJ]

No; it can't be regulated and moreover it shouldn't.

 

[Rallispec]

<< Hmmm...how do you think this relates to newspapers then? Of course, no one regulates the little underground ones that only 10 people read...but I'm sure someone's making sure the NY Times or the Christian Science Monitor watch what they say... >>



im pretty sure that newspapers can say mostly whatever they want--- but they know if they start saying really contriversial and bad stuff, they'll lose there sponsers and advertisements and things like that, which are things newspapers need to survive.

 

[mithrandir2001]

It's already regulated.

 

[wyvrn]

Should it be regulated? Yes.
By whom? Parents

The govt. can give guidelines, but should not be allowed to censor. That is up to parents, or if you are an adult, up to yourself to judge what is acceptable content. Same argument as for TV, newspaper, radio, etc..

 

[Phuz]

Censorship sucks.. but Asimov saw a future with it heavily in place.. and its obvious we're on our way.

edit: actually, eventually the internet will be privatized and separated... so its inevitable.. right?

 

[minendo]

<< No; it can't be regulated and moreover it shouldn't. >>


Exactly. If the internet becomes regulated, there will just be new ways of accessing information.

 

[gopunk]

<< Should it be regulated? Yes.
By whom? Parents

The govt. can give guidelines, but should not be allowed to censor. That is up to parents, or if you are an adult, up to yourself to judge what is acceptable content. Same argument as for TV, newspaper, radio, etc.. >>




EXACTLY.

 

[gar598]

noooooooooooo

 

[AdamDuritz99]

Should it? No!
Will it? No!
Can it? No!

But i do believe, as someone stated up above, that parents should regulate it as their wishes for their children. Also, child pornography, should be forcefully banned, throughtout the world. But that's most likely impossible.

peace
sean

 

[jobberd]

<< Should it be regulated? Yes.
By whom? Parents

The govt. can give guidelines, but should not be allowed to censor. That is up to parents, or if you are an adult, up to yourself to judge what is acceptable content. Same argument as for TV, newspaper, radio, etc.. >>

AMEN

 

[Jfur]

Think about the TRA of 96 and what happened with the Supreme Court -- there is, and can not be, a global (or even local) standard of "obscenity". Laws like that are created by legislators (and their lobbyists) that have NO CLUE about technology. The Internet is not property of the US, and in a ferw years English will not even be the dominant language of the WWW. You might also think about whether the internet is a broadcast medium (like tv) or something more private (and initiated by the user, like a phone), or perhaps some new hybrid (?)

Censorship will come to its fruition not through some vague law but by the incredibly invasive actions of corporations (linked to governments) that seek to utterly control the services you have in your home (e.g., pay per listen music, moveis, etc.)

 

[Platypus]

NOOOOOOOOO

 

[Heisenberg]

<< NOOOOOOOOO >>

 

[worth]

Regulate the content of governmental US websites? Yes, and it is already being done.

Regulate private websites? No, can't be done. It's a "private" network, after all.

 

[illusion88]

Hells no it shouldnt. If a user wants it moderated let them get software for it. But under no circumstances should the government be stoping the easiest way for freedom of speech. If my mommy doesnt want my to go look at porn anymore then she can get a danm net nanny but big brother will stay in his room.

 

[Kadarin]

<< If so, by whom? If not, why not? Just wondering after I watch a tv program. >>



Unless it's a parent controlling what their kid sees, it should not be regulated per se. However, normal FTC and State/Federal laws should apply to commerce done on the web, but that's not "regulating the web".

Once you start "regulating internet content", you fall into the trap of trying to figure out to whose community standards you should dumb the internet down to, and how you're going to enforce this across international boundaries.

 

[amdskip]

never gonna happen

 

[Amused]

NO!!!

The Internet is the last truely libertarian and free place on Earth. Leave it be.

If you're a parent, YOU regulate YOUR kid. Don't regulate what I can and can't see, just to make up for your sh!tty parenting.

I'm really freakin' tired of all the idiot parents trying to child proof the world. World proof your damn child and stop putting rubber baby buggy bumpers on every damn thing, including the damn internet. It's this same crap that ruined Las Vegas and New Orleans.

 

[Nefrodite]

no.


if ashcroft could, he'd ban your hotbabe threads

 

[yakko]

The closest thing to regulation should be that adult content sites should have their own top level domain.

 

[MikeO]

HELL NO!!!

 

[rudder]

It is just too plain huge to regulate. Any yahoo with a text editor can put up any kind of page they would like. Then you get into international law. You could never get every country in the world to agree on content regulation.

I would however like to see it regulated in a way to help me as a parent. I've heard the idea get knocked around about pr0n being put in its own domain like .xxx or something. Its not censorship, but it would allow much easier control a child accidently getting to a porn site. Plus it is embarrasing to mistype a common URL and have a pr0n site pop up, then you have to explain it to the old lady what those boobs are doing on the screen.