French Spanish

On the left below, please find an article for the Culture of Peace News Network and on the right the discussion related to this article. You are invited to read and join in the discussion by clicking on any of the questions listed here, or, if you wish, you may enter a new discussion question as described on the bottom of this page. Please take the time to check one of the boxes below as to whether this article should be given a high priority, a medium priority or no priority

by program area by region by category by recency

United Nations and Culture of Peace Global Movement for a Culture of Peace Values, Attitudes, Actions

Rules of the Game Submit an Article Become a CPNN Reporter

	Internet Freedom and America an article by John Clarke A particular issue that plagues the Earth as a whole is the future of the internet. The internet has the power to connect people across the globe, and bring about cooperation in areas where it would not normally be possible. However, as the internet is a constantly evolving system there has been much debate concerning its future. The issue has been brought up specifically in the United States of America. On October 26th, 2011 a bill known as the Stop Online Piracy Act was introduced by the House Judiciary Committee building upon previous acts within Congress. Specifically, the PRO-IP Act of 2008 and the Senate’s Protect IP Act of 2011. What these acts are intended to do is to limit potential copyright abuse by internet users, and protect innovators from abuse. While this may ultimately be a worthy cause, there is also another side equally as divisive. In attempting to protect copyright, and works that appear on the internet, censorship can be subtly encouraged. The argument can be made that by trying to protect these works, the United States government may stifle future creativity, and establish copyright laws that actually stunt innovation, rather than encourage it. Both of these ideas are supported by several important organizations. The protection of copyright is being primarily backed by organizations such as the Motion Picture Association of America, the Recording Industry Association of America, and motion picture companies such as Viacom and Miramax. It is also supported by individuals primarily creating mass media. On the other side, companies that function through online freedom such as Google, Ebay, and Amazon. The protection of freedom has also been backed by smaller websites, and individuals working to produce less large scale productions. Ultimately this is an issue that will continue to be debated in the future. At the current point in time, one may only speculate on how the internet will ultimately develop.		DISCUSSION There is no question yet associated with this article. * * * * * Latest reader comment:
This report was posted on 11/17/2011.