Internet Bill of Rights
December 8, 2007
Why should the world’s largest social medium of communication be above the rules? The first amendment is controversial around the world. The United States government and many of its citizens preach the virtues of freedom of speech. False truths displayed as knowledge online do not come into question and are not held to the same high standards as print newspapers are.
Is the Internet above the law? Should the Internet be viewed as the glimmer of hope in a world where those with military power also have the power to dictate what is acceptable information to the public?
People should always have the right to express themselves. Period. That is what most people’s instinctual response will be when questioned about the right to freedom of speech. The Internet should be an outlet for everyone to have their voices heard and to find unbiased information from sources around the world.
Censorship online is masked by millions of choices. Censorship offline is always being questioned, from intelligent design vs. evolution at school, to waving banners in front of the Whitehouse to rally against all popularly available dissatisfactions.