Issues: Censorship

Many have revelled in the free exchange of ideas which the anarchic structure of the Internet has enabled. It also enables the easy circulation of information which is controlled elsewhere, such as child pornography and racist propaganda. The 1996 Communications Decency Act begins to restrict the materials which may be transmitted over the Internet, and has been vigorously opposed by groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union and the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

• Should there be control over what may be circulated on the Internet?
• Are there costs involved in imposing regulation on what was previously a network without central authority?