Research and Policy Issues with Digital Technologies

To regulate the Internet is really difficult since it started off as something that was designed o be unregulated

It might be too late to regulate something that already has such huge proportions

Regulation is difficult to achieve due to the cost. Freedom of Speech might be negatevely affected

Especially children ‘Vulnerable Users’ People who shop on the internet, especially

against credit card abuse

Frauds Data Protection Pedopornography Illegal subjects (drugs, weapons, etc.) Abusive material (racism, homophobia, etc.) Violence

Blocking: an internet watchdog checks sites and blocks offensive material so that it cannot be accessed. This method created big concern (the example of China)

Filtering: sites are categorised according to content. Users set their computers to filter out the kind of material they do not want too see, or Internet Service Providers filter out offensive material.

Rating: sites are rated according to their content and users decide whether or not to enter sites with high ratings.

Approved list: white lists are sites approved by a third party; black lists are sites which have been judged as inappropiate by an external party

Electronic signatures: electronic equivalent of signatures, can be used for secure communication

Hallmarks: commercial sites are checked and those meetind trading standards are given an electronic hallmark

Laws: Governments have a part in shaping Internet policies by passing judgements;

Semi-independent organisations for abuse reporting (e.g. The Internet Watch Foundation - the only recognised in the UK which works in partnership with the police, Government, the public, Internet service providers and the online industry);

The Internet is a new technology made up by its users;

Importance of users opinion: regulations do not have to get in the way of services and new technologies provided;

Technology develops are interested in design rules and codes according to customers needs and expectations;