Governance, Regulations, and Powers on the Internet - Research Paper Example

i) Introduction……………………………………………………………....………..2 a. Internet regulation………………………………..………..….3 ii) Already existing solution b. Internet regulation among consumers ………..…………..3 c. Internet regulation in the commercial sector…………..….4 d. Government involvement …………………………..……..5 iii) Proposed solution………………………………………………………5 iv) Solution ……………………………………….…………..………6 Name: Course: Instructor: Date Internet regulation i) Introduction The internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that utilizes the standard internet protocol suite to link several billion devices globally. It is the form of communication platform that is most popular in all parts of the world due to increase in computer and emerging technologies (Weiwei, 51). That is, it comprises of a network of networks comprising of millions of private, public, business, academic, and government networks, either locally or globally, that are conjoined by a broad array of electronic, optical and wireless networking technologies. The use of the internet is growing exponentially and moving in directions that no know could have imagined. Regardless whether we change with it, it is a fact that the way we communicate will continue to change. The digital migration has already shifted the boundaries between our personal and professional lives. The internet creates daily contacts with an endless number of electronic databases that in turn preserve our thoughts, statements, video and even voices. It is hard to find an individual who claim that internet is the final frontier or even a particularly revolutionary frontier (Martinsen, 89). Internet regulation Internet usage is a concept that has existed and will continue to exist. However, the fascinating fact is that with the new opportunities, risks and questions presented by the increasing level of technology platforms that allow people across the globe and communicate in new ways. It is used in almost all the sectors of any economy in the swift exchange and access of information and has fuelled faster economic expansion in many economies due to efficient communication and co-ordination of activities it offers. The benefits of the internet are undoubted. However, despite their well-intentioned efforts, there are some limitations that come by the use of the internet. (Determann, 2). The possibility of regulations aimed at neutralizing the internet has been met by fierce debate among scholars globally. While some are of the opposing sides, the rest embraces the idea of regulating the internet usage. Basically, internet regulation is an act of restricting or controlling access to some aspects or information. In a nutshell, internet regulation includes censorship of data and controlling aspects of the internet such as IP address and domain registration. Well, i tend to be of the opinion that the internet usage should have some limitations (Brousseau, Meryem and Cécile, 73). ii) Already existing solutions Internet regulation among consumers One of the areas of concern with regards to negative effects of internet is privacy. I believe that expectation of data privacy and privacy rights tend to be grossly exaggerated these days. In fact, most human rights treaties and constitutions do not recognize rights to privacy (Price and Stefaan, 76). That is, most constitutions protect majorly against governments and state actors as opposed to individual internet users and companies. In relation to the internet, privacy concerns are sometimes pitched directly against rights to free speech and information. In other words communication freedoms outweigh rights to freedom (Determann, 20). Some internet sites encourage people to be more public about their personal lives. For instance, users of social media post intimate details of the lives hence are exposed to bypass the filters they might employ when talking about their private lives. Another worrying factor is that the things posted by users in the internet might remain available permanently. Despite the fact that most internet providing companies have controls on what can be seen and posted by the users, these limitations might be difficult to control, often forgotten or don’t work well as advertised (Determann, 12). The internet platform is vast and can be intimidating for those who choose to mix professional and social lives online. In this regard, management of internet usage is vital when venturing in to any job market (Varner and Varner, 2013). Exposing internet user’s fun sides is a liability when a job seeker or employer can have access to such information easily. In a nutshell, it might be difficult for a user to balance between posting personal information on internet while risking offending, potential employer, colleague or family. The internet main objective is to help users to learn and grow. However, this is fast changing because some users spent more time on the internet hence rendering them unproductive and distracted. Continuously use of internet creates a feeling of disconnect this is more common amongst the youth with disabilities.it brings about the risk of depression and even low self-esteem (Brousseau, Meryem and Cécile, 99). Internet regulation in the commercial sector Having focused on the consumer side, let us turn our attention to the commercial sector of the internet. Some people may wonder if the internet has become so vital to everyday lives that it is, in essence a utility that should be regulated (Branigan, 61). Well it is a fact to state that the internet has precisely reached that point of importance because it has not been subjected to regulation like a utility good, instead it gives room for innovation and investment. This whatsoever does not mean that implementation of regulatory policies will change the internet status as a utility good, or rather it is aimed at making it a more stable and proper utility good to consume (Harwit, 39). The regulation of the internet usage within the corporate world is inevitable. For instance, net neutrality prevents an internet provider from blocking and throttling any services that it had agreed to offer to another company. These kinds of regulations are vital in preventing dominant carriers from restricting competition for their own services or cutting lucrative deals that benefits a partner while at the same time hurting another competitor. Government involvement in regulation Several regulations have been proposed to enhance the process of internet regulations. Whether the moves are valid remains a question that needs to be answered by the respective governments (Branigan, 21). For instance, the Chinese government in the year 2002 issued new rules requiring Internet users to provide their real name to service provider, while on the other hand the rule subjected the internet providing companies to a greater responsibility of deleting forbidden postings and reporting them to the authorities. In 2010, the U.S. through Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski proposed a regulation that regulates broadband lines under decades-old rules designed for traditional phone networks. These are just few of the many examples where governments are making attempts to regulate the internet usage. It is worth noting that despite differences in ideologies that motivate the decision to regulate the internet, the bottom line is that some restrictions are made that might benefit or not benefit the involved parties. iii) Proposed solution a. Disclosure of security breaches by financial institutions b. Cyber security regulations for companies that maintain personal information c. Criminalization of cyber-attacks d. Expand copyright terms and regulation of temporary copies I. Solution In conclusion, the globe is in a period of exponential technological advancement and uses internet to overtake the large social, economic and political challenges existing and emerging. . Nevertheless, internet content is raising concern in the society due to the negative moral influence it is exposing the users to and particularly the learners. In this regard a lot of further remedial measures e.g. censorship of internet need to be created by the government and the society to optimize the unexploited benefits of internet to the stakeholders. Work cited Brousseau, Eric, Meryem Marzouki, and Cécile Méadel. Governance, Regulations and Powers on the Internet. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2012. Print. Brousseau, Eric, Meryem Marzouki, and Cécile Méadel. Governance, Regulations and Powers on the Internet. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2012. Print. Determann L. Social Media Privacy: A dozen Myths and Facts. Stanford Technology Law Review (2012).  Harwit, Eric. "Chinas Telecommunications Revolution." New York: Oxford University Press, 2008 Jump up, Branigan, Tania. “How China’s Internet generation broke the silence”, The Guardian, 24 March 2010 Martinsen, Joel (12 June 2009). “Everyone loves content filters, Xinhua says”. Danwei.org. Retrieved 12 June 2009 Price, Monroe E, and Stefaan G. Verhulst. Self-regulation and the Internet. The Hague: Kluwer Law Internat. [u.a., 2005. Print. Smith, Graham J. H. Internet Law and Regulation. London: Sweet & Maxwell, 2007. Print. Weiwei,Ai, “China’s censorship can never defeat the internet”, “Journal of Social History”,16 April 2012 Wilde, Tim. “Great Firewall Tor Probing Circa 09 DEC 2011”. Retrieved 27 May 2012. Read More