Comments on the Assigned Readings By Alexandra Seppala

Response to Jack M. Balkin's Digital Speech and Democratic Culture:

I definitely agree with Jack Balkin in that the Internet and digital technologies in general are changing the ways in which people use and interpret freedom of speech. I also agree that this is a pressing issue that must be examined. The Internet is basically created by free speech. If we take into consideration all of the fan websites, personal websites, social networking sites and blogs, the Internet becomes a means for displaying free speech in a completely open and uninhibited domain. Because of the freedoms associated with digital technologies, the issue of freedom of speech must be addressed. Just as the laws regarding freedom of speech outline certain codes of conduct, so should the Internet.

Response to John Perry Barlow’s Declaration of the Independence of Cyberspace:

I found it very interesting that in the opening of Barlow’s Declaration to the Independence of Cyberspace he posed a warning to governments and to the industrial world. He attests that Cyberspace is “the new home of Mind,” which implies that the government and the industrial world lack intelligence. He also is claiming that these two entities are outdated and do not contribute to cyberspace in any way and thus, should not impose their rules upon the online community. Barlow ends by stating that the users of cyberspace will create their own “civilization,” which again implies that the world of cyberspace needs no assistance from the establishments that have been running our country throughout history. Barlow is making huge claims, which he does not do a good job of backing up. His declaration is very amusing, but does not have much weight in my opinion. Even cyberspace needs some form of governing, which would be based upon already established laws that our government has implemented upon our industrial society.

Response to Lawrence Lessig's Free Culture:

Lawrence Lessig addresses the issues surrounding free culture from a very unique perspective. Upon reading chapters 1 and 4 from Lessig’s Free Culture, I began to wonder about the freedom of the Internet. Just how free is digital culture? And more importantly, how long will it remain as free as it is today? Will the Internet become increasingly censored? Or will blogs and social networking sites continue to run free with hardly any rules or regulations? I believe that rules will be implemented eventually, and that it is merely a matter of when.