Study Guide for Business Law
Chapter 11 Internet Law and Ethics
The Internet is a substantial catalyst for continuing globalization, breaking down national boundaries and rules to allow free interchange of communications, ideas, goods and services around the world - 52% agreed that by 2020, the free flow of information on the Internet “will completely blur current national boundaries as they are replaced by…geographically diverse and reconfigured human organizations tied together by global networks”
Policy makers, users, and posters are all concerned about the degree to which we need to impose the force of law on Internet activities.
Can we count on the free market and ethics to govern Internet conduct or are government rules necessary?
In other words, is market regulation, government regulation, self-regulation, or a combination of the three the best model for the Internet?
Many of the problems law addresses in the conventional commercial world must be revisited by the virtual world: digital signatures, privacy, copyright infringement, freedom of speech, fraud, and taxes
The key question is how to maintain the vigor of the free market while establishing a limited array of binding legal standards that will bring confidence to the global Internet market
Even the firmest free market advocates recognize the necessity for clear, contractual principles and effective means to prevent fraud and other criminal behavior
The Digital Divide
Concern that the Internet may worsen the income/wealth gap that splits both Americans and the globe
From 2005 to 2007, % of African American homes with broadband access increased more than the average U.S. %
A greater percent of African Americans have used the Internet for education and getting a job than the average American
In general, higher income higher chance household has broadband connection
Divide against blind users (a lot of content is not compatible with software that can vocalize text and computer graphics)
Problem with the visual
The Internet is a substantial catalyst for continuing globalization, breaking down national boundaries and rules to allow free interchange of communications, ideas, goods and services around the world - 52% agreed that by 2020, the free flow of information on the Internet “will completely blur current national boundaries as they are replaced by…geographically diverse and reconfigured human organizations tied together by global networks”
Policy makers, users, and posters are all concerned about the degree to which we need to impose the force of law on Internet activities.
Can we count on the free market and ethics to govern Internet conduct or are government rules necessary?
In other words, is market regulation, government regulation, self-regulation, or a combination of the three the best model for the Internet?
Many of the problems law addresses in the conventional commercial world must be revisited by the virtual world: digital signatures, privacy, copyright infringement, freedom of speech, fraud, and taxes
The key question is how to maintain the vigor of the free market while establishing a limited array of binding legal standards that will bring confidence to the global Internet market
Even the firmest free market advocates recognize the necessity for clear, contractual principles and effective means to prevent fraud and other criminal behavior
The Digital Divide
Concern that the Internet may worsen the income/wealth gap that splits both Americans and the globe
From 2005 to 2007, % of African American homes with broadband access increased more than the average U.S. %
A greater percent of African Americans have used the Internet for education and getting a job than the average American
In general, higher income higher chance household has broadband connection
Divide against blind users (a lot of content is not compatible with software that can vocalize text and computer graphics)
Problem with the visual