The Moral Issues of Freenet and Online File Sharing :: Internet Technology Computers Essays

The Moral Issues of Freenet and Online File Sharing The internet today is a vast network that contains nearly limitless amounts of information and media. With this immense amount of data at our fingertips, the line between right and wrong has begun to blur. The illegal downloading of copyrighted material has exploded in recent years, but a larger issue looms over the current copyrighting frenzy. It is that of the preservation of free speech in cyberspace. Should the government be allowed to limit our access to "unsuitable content"? And to what degree? These are not easy questions to answer, nor should they be. Similar questions have been raised throughout history. Freenet is a program that has been developed to provide an answer to the aforementioned question with a definite no. The following essay will explain what Freenet is and how it fits into the free speech debate and future of the internet. In this essay I will discuss the following: †¢A quick history of free speech on the Internet †¢An explanation of Freenet †¢How Freenet functions †¢Freenet's role in the future progression of the digital age †¢The illegal usage of Freenet Free Speech and the Internet The first amendment to the constitution reads: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." (Constitution) We as Americans have the right to speak our minds. We are able to criticize the government and voice our opinions in the form of voting and political debate. This is not only a right, it is vital for the survival of our country. The internet is no stranger to free speech debates. In early 1996 the Communications Decency Act was passed. This act prevented "indecent" and "patently offensive" content which included profanity and many works of classic literature that contained such material. No less than 6 months later, the CDA was ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. In 1997 the Supreme Court granted the Internet full protection under the 1" amendm ent entitling it the same freedoms of print media. Two sides are now battling on a new front: the abuse of 1" amendment in cyber space through the exchange of illegal material. I will discuss this issue in more detail later.