Ethics and Social Responsibility

Ethics

Deals with what is generally considered right or wrong

The two approaches regarding ethics

First, that freedom of expression on the internet must be absolute, without exception, and it cannot be limited even by reason of the damage which may be caused to society; Second, that freedom of expression and information carries with it "duties and responsibilities", as stated in article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Therefore it can be legitimate, and even desirable, for States to take measures to prevent the diffusion on Internet of illegal content such as child pornography or racist or xenophobic material. Beyond illegal content, it is also legitimate for States to take measures to restrict access to certain harmful types of content.

Bloggers Posting information and personal life , politics, religion, news and miscellaneous Are becoming an increasingly important component in journalism Consumer-generated media (CGM) The role of the public in capturing and reporting news User Generated Content (UGC)

Laws and Censorship

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Censorship

Occurs when a government or authority controls speech and other forms of expression

Content-filtering software
Works with Web browser to check each Web site for indecent materials ideal for situations where one person is responsible for setting the rules and defining what is allowable and not

Laws and Censorship

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The web is a great tool for sharing ideas and freedom of expression. However, efforts to try and control the Internet are growing. Internet repression is reported in countries like China,Vietnam, Tunisia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Syria.People are persecuted and imprisoned simply for criticising their government, calling for democracy and greater pressfreedom, or exposing human rights abuses, online. Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right. It is one of the most precious of all rights.

IMPRISONED FOR SENDING AN EMAIL: THE CASE OF SHI TAO 7

The Chinese Central Propaganda Department issued instructions to journalists on how they should report on the anniversary of Tiananmen Square. Journalists were instructed to correctly direct public opinion and to never release any opinions inconsistent with central policies. Shi Tao attended a meeting and took notes about the governments instructions. He emailed this information to his US contact, who runs a prodemocracy website. An article was published the same day under the name198964 .Shi Tao sent the email using his Yahoo! email account. Seven months later,police arrested him, charging him with illegally providing state secrets to foreign entities. Email account holder information which was supplied by Yahoo! was used to convict him and sentence him to 10 years in prison.Chinese journalist Shi Tao is today serving 10 years in gaol for sending one email.He used his Yahoo! email account to write to a friend in the United States about Chinese Governments instructions on how to report the 15th anniversary of theTiananmen Square protests. Official Chinese Internet monitors read the email and approached Yahoo!. The Internet company gave authorities Shi Tao's personal email accountholder information. Shi Tao was then convicted of illegally providing state secrets to foreign entities: the information supplied by Yahoo! helped secure his conviction.

Some ethical questions

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It may be also be a better option to set laws that apply internationally, and predefine limits of what can be stated and published over the internet regarding violations of cultural norms. Holding a non-binding convention to discuss the possibilities and options regarding this solution may also be progressive to the debate. Finally, an organisation or an overseeing panel of experts may be assigned to determine which cases of violation of freedom of expression may be entertained, and which may not.

Some Ethical questions

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Some of the major question on freedom of expression: Should freedom of expression be absolute? Should the user , government or ISP companies filter the internet content Is censorship always an abuse of human rights(freedom of expression)? Or is some censorship necessary?

REFERENCES
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Jakubowicz-Karol. Freedom of expression : a right with responsibilities http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=Introduction+by+Dr+Karol+Jakubowicz%2C+Moderator &source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCAQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fportal.unesco.org%2Fci%2Fen%2Ffiles %2F25449%2F11909024891Jakubowicz-Karol.pdf%2FJakubowiczKarol.pdf&ei=h0ZmT7vkLZPP4QTx2vnWBw&usg=AFQjCNEDMwUPduuQpEylRDuUUzY1DkI-g&cad=rja internet censorship in china: http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=internet+censorship+in+china+pdf&source=web&cd=3& ved=0CDoQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fweb.eecs.umich.edu%2F~zmao%2FPapers%2Fchinacensorshippam11.pdf&ctbm=vid&ei=UU9mT8jMEvD04QTskqX6Bw&usg=AFQjCNEBUpNs87e_hJzCZNFzeBp3tpZ-Q&cad=rja