Improving Cyberspace Essay Research Paper Improving Cyberspace

Improving Cyberspace Essay, Research Paper

Improving Cyberspace

Improving Cyberspace

by

Jason Crandall

Honors English III

Research Paper

26 February 1996

Thesis: Though governments cannot physically regulate the

Internet, cyberspace needs regulations to prevent

illegal activity, the destruction of morals, and child

access to pornography.

I. Introduction.

II. Illegal activity online costs America millions and hurts

our economy.

A. It is impossible for our government to physically

regulate cyberspace.

1. One government cannot regulate the Internet by

itself.

2. The basic design of the Internet prohibits

censorship.

B. It is possible for America to censor the Internet.

1. All sites in America receive their address from

the government.

2. The government could destroy the address for

inappropriate material.

3. Existing federal laws regulate BBS’s from

inappropriate material.

III. Censoring the Internet would establish moral standards.

A. Pornography online is more harsh than any other

media.

1. The material out there is highly perverse and

sickening.

2. Some is not only illegal, but focuses on

children.

B. Many industries face problems from illegal activity

online.

1. Floods of copyrighted material are illegally

published online.

2. Innocent fans face problems for being good fans.

IV. Online pornography is easily and illegally accessible

to minors.

A. In Michigan, anyone can access anything in

cyberspace for free.

1. Mich-Net offers most of Michigan access with a

local call.

2. The new Communications Decency Act could

terminate Mich-net.

B. BBS’s offer callers access to adult material

illegally.

1. Most BBS operators don’t require proof of age.

2. Calls to BBS’s are undetectable to a child’s

parents.

V. Conclusion.

“People don’t inadvertently tune into alt.sex.pedophile while driving to a

Sunday picnic with Aunt Gwendolyn” (Huber). For some reason, many people

believe this philosophy and therefore think the Internet and other online areas

should not be subject to censorship. The truth is, however, that computerized

networks like the Internet are in desperate need of regulations. People can say,

do, or create anything they wish, and as America has proved in the past, this

type of situation just doesn’t work. Though governments cannot physically

regulate the Internet, cyberspace needs regulations to prevent illegal activity,

the destruction of morals, and child access to pornography.

First, censoring the online community would ease the tension on the computer

software industry. Since the creation of the first computer networks, people

have been exchanging data back and forth, but eventually people stopped

transferring text, and started sending binaries, otherwise known as computer

programs. Users like the idea; why would someone buy two software packages when

they could buy one and trade for a copy of another with a friend. This

philosophy has cost the computer industry millions, and companies like Microsoft

have simply given up. Laws exist against exchanging computer software;

violators face up to a $200,000 fine and/or five years imprisonment, but these

laws are simply unenforced. Most businesses are violators as well. Software

companies require that every computer that uses one of their packages has a

separate license for that software purchased, yet companies rarely purchase

their required minimum. All these illegal copies cost computer companies

millions in profits, hurting the company, and eventually hurting the American

economy.

On the other hand, many people believe that the government cannot censor the

Internet. They argue that the Internet is an international network and that one

government should not have the power to censor another nation’s

telecommunications. For example, American censors can block violence on

American television, but they cannot touch Japanese television. The Internet is

open to all nations, and one nation cannot appoint itself police of the Internet.

Others argue that the design of the Internet prohibits censorship. A different

site runs every page on the Internet, and usually the location of the site is

undetectable. If censors cannot find the site, they can’t shut it down. Most

critics believe that America cannot possibly censor the Internet.

Indeed, the American government can censor the Internet. Currently, the National

Science Federation administers all internet addresses, such as web addresses.

The organization could employ censors, who would check every American site

monthly. Any site the censors find with illegal material could immediately lose

their address,

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