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Even in its short lifespan, the Internet is living up to its potential as being quite possibly the most vibrant and egalitarian form of communication in the media. Its interactivity converts ordinary citizens into publishers who can reach thousands and even millions of people around the world in a relatively easy and inexpensive manner. By becoming active producers of information rather than passive consumers, citizens are also engaging in a high degree of on-line political discussion and education and grassroots organizing to influence public policy. In addition, the increasing availability of the Internet around the world can allow individuals in authoritarian regimes not only to access information on-line that has been banned elsewhere by authorities but also to get the word out on internal repression. Indeed, the positive implications of the Internet are enormous. Nevertheless, this potential of the Internet can only succeed if governments work collectively to ensure that the right to free expression on the Internet is guaranteed and that attempts to control on-line content are abandoned. Perhaps more than this, however, efforts should be made by everyone interested in encouraging the populist features of the Internet to work toward ensuring that as many individuals as possible are able to hook up to it. In this way, there will be so many people of both genders, of all ethnic makeups and from all corners of the globe using the Internet and realizing its potential that they will not stand for any kind of censorship or control of this dynamic medium of communication. It would constitute not only a profound affront to their universally-recognized right to free expression but also to their status as active and informed citizens in the world's largest electronic democracy. |
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Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
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