The Handbook of Information and Computer Ethics

Book Review Chapter 19:

Regulation and Governance of the Internet: JOHN WECKERT and YESLAM AL-SAGGAF

Library Reference: N/A

Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Handbook-Information-Computer-Ethics/dp/0471799599/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1232853902&sr=8-1

Quote:  “Given the benefits of the Internet, however, we do not want to throw the baby out with the bathwater.”

    What this means is that given what the Internet can do whether it is good or bad, especially for children, as a responsible person, we do not want any of our children seeing what they are not supposed to be seeing. This just doesn’t associate with porn but also stuff that show violence and could affect the children.

Learning Expectation:

    Based on the title of the chapter itself, this is obviously something about the regulations and governance when Internet users use the Internet. This is no different from our own civil regulation and governance. We have a rule of our own. We have lists of things that must not be done or violated. Any violation can cause us to have its consequences.

Review:

    Just like we have a rule of our own, the Internet although may be different from our lives, the Internet also has a similarity when it comes to regulation and governance. We also have to do right things in the Internet and must not violate things that are not supposed to be done in the Internet. There are also things that are like content regulation, technical issues, current situations, and other related things regarding regulations or rules.

So basically, this chapter is all about the current regulations of the Internet and it is discussed here how to come up or what are the possibilities of having an effective regulation for the Internet.

What I’ve learned:

    I am astonished to have learned that there is this so-called WGIG or what stands for Working Group Internet Governance, which is set up by the Secretary-General of the United Nations. This is very interesting for me because I never even thought that a group existed. I guess now I know.

Questions:

1.    I feel that the current regulation for the Internet isn’t enough, why is this?

2.    Is the WGIG coming up with a better regulation?

3.    If ever, is it going to be as effective?

4.    Will it be more effective as the current regulations?

5.    What if they could not come up with one?

Citation: (Kenneth Einar E. Himma & Herman T. Tavani, 2008)