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@@ -38,4 +38,53 @@ content to such an extent such as the site 4chan, but they therby naturally have content that others may find distasteful [@4chan;@moot]. +On this level it is clear, that private regulation is fine, and indeed +quite useful (cite), particularly on popular platforms that are used +by large numbers of people, or by particularly young children, such as +YouTube. Governments will struggle to regulate this as much of it is +beyond the bounds of their nation and is of such high volume that an +attempt at regulation would be meaningless. There is cause for +concern, however, with regulation on a 'lower level', such as the +private companies that provide the infrastructure to form what we refer +to as the internet. Sites have been taken down like this [@8chan] and +it is an area that can be dangerous if regulation is introduced +--reword [@ieee-freedom]. Regulation and surveillance at this level +poses a threat to the freedoms the internet provides and the freedoms +of citizens, as it would give governments or private companies to +remove sites as they please. Furthermore, payment transaction +services, such as PayPal or Visa can be considered in this way, and +similarly, any attempts for regulation could be very serious for the +freedoms of individuals. + +In protest to the potential for this there has been an increased +interest in decentralisation. Cryptocurrencies can replace traditional +payment systems, networks such as Tor can circumvent potential removal +of sites from the internet, and decentralised communications protocols +featuring encryption allow free and private communication. In fact, +these technologies are already in popular use, both by those who have +an interest in their privacy and freedoms, but also by criminal +groups. Although there is a lot of effort to prevent this crime +[@crime], the advance of technology makes it more difficult, thus +presenting the problem that attempts to regulate freedom of speech in +the internet age are useless, due to the freedoms the internet age +provides. New technologies make it increasingly difficult to prevent +communication and transfer of capital between parties governments +might wish to. Thereby, it may be of greater interest to encourage +healthy use of the internet, rather than attempt to force it, when +doing so is arguably impossible. + +In the internet age, young people are very prominent users of +technology [cite]. Yet, when learning that parents that are involved +in the technology industry, such as Steve Jobs limit their own +children in their usage of technology [cite], it can come as a +surprise to us. We should consider how we allow our children to use +technology and make use of the freedoms it already provides and will +seemingly continue to provide, perhaps to an even greater extent. For +governments attempting to promote ethical behaviour and enforce laws, +attempted regulation of the freedoms that the internet provides may be +fruitless or may have to be so draconian, as is visible in China, that +these very regulations are perhaps themselves deeply unethical. Thus, +governments should consider instead promoting education on the use of +technology. + # References and bibliography |