Is it just me, or are we not doing enough to put restricting laws on the internet?

Question

The world is moving at a much faster pace than the lawmakers may have anticipated. A lot of the legislation we have regarding internet practices is insufficient. People can gamble online, they can harass others, they can commit fraud, they can pose as someone else, they can do so many things and noone really cares because "it's just the internet." Is it wrong for me to believe that any activity that occurs within the jurisdiction of any country should be dealt with equally and accordingly, whether it is online, or otherwise? And should there not be greater restrictions on the content that we are able to access from other countries? Theoretically, foreign websites are not subject to the United States' Freedom of Speech (or any other Constitutional rights). Also, I think it is unfair that a large number of websites relinquish any kind of accountability for misconduct that occurs on their sites by making people agree to their terms of use.

Also, people can argue about how what they do online is a matter of privacy, but once you post information on a global forum (the internet), it becomes public.......Do these people have any right to argue privacy?

Answer 1

People can gamble online, they can harass others, they can commit fraud, they can pose as someone else, they can do so many things and noone really cares because "it's just the internet.

The fact is that people CANNOT do these things. The USDOJ has announced that offshore internet gaming will be prosecuted; people are constantly arrested for harassing and defauding others online, and online child porn is one of the top priorities for the federal government and the FBI.

The problem is that because of the international nature of the Internet, the ease that people can change identities and jump from server to server, it just becomes very difficult to find and prosecute these people. "Nigerian schemes" are hidden through one fake telephone number and e-mai address after another. Spammers hide their identies. Phishers attempt to strike from one account to another, from one ISP to another, until they're discovered, and then they "jump ship" to another account and ISP.
Should enforcement of violations of law on the Internet be stepped up? You bet. Should there be harsh penalties for Phishers and scammers? Oh yeah. Should we put up a "virtual barrier" to prevent Americans from viewing foreign websites? NO! That's the point of the Internet -- a global communications mechanism.
And remember, in some cases, the right to receive information may be as essential to the First Amendment as the right to disseminate information. While reasonable regulations have been put in place, and general criminal law applies on the Internet, there's no reason to put up an "iron curtain" to stop legitimate flow of information just to protect against a few bad guys.

Answer 2

America has some of the broadest restrictions on the internet. Gambling, scamming and pornography are strictly regulated. But since the Internet is world wide it is near impossible to restrict all content, especially using one countries laws to do so. So the adage of "buyer beware" rings especially true when dealing on the internet. Sites that allow access based on a person accepting their terms of agreement are well within their rights, and are just protecting themselves. If you don't agree with the terms don't access the site...it is a pretty simple solution. and any violation of those terms voids your access to the site. Why should they be held "accountable" for the actions of some individuals that use their site?

Answer 3

Nice concept. Impossible to do. How are you going to restrict someone from accessing a site in another country - technically can't be done? If online gambling is illegal in the US but legal in country X; do you believe that the US should be able to shut it down? Do you wish to give the US governement control over what you can and cannot read just because it is hosted in another country. I don't think so....

It is not "theoretical" that foreign websites are not subject to American law - it is a fact, cannot and should not change.

Answer 4

Yes, people are free to do what they want. That's the whole point of America -- we're not supposed to be a fascist state.

And no, they cannot commit fraud or harassment online, any more than they can in person. It doesn't matter what tools are being used -- the general laws against fraud or harassment apply equally well online as they do elsewhere.

If you want to start blocking content because you don't like what they are saying, install filters on your computer.

But if you want to start censoring content and preventing everyone else from choosing what they see and read, you better start by shredding the Constitution.

Answer 5

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Answer 6

Foreign websites are not protected by the Constitution, they are also not under the jurisdiction of US law enforcement. You should check out China's internet restrictions. You might agree with them.