Freedom of Speech on the Internet — Part 11: Final Thoughts

Note: This is the last post in a series of posts about freedom of speech on the Internet.

You should read:
Part 1 – Remix Culture
Part 2 – Broken Promises
Part 3 – Network (Classic 1976 Film)
Part 4 – Concentration of Media Ownership
Part 5 – George Orwell Rolls in His Grave
Part 6 – The Internet Revolution and Citizen Media
Part 7 – Remix Culture (…again)
Part 8 – Threats to Freedom of Speech on the Net
Part 9 – Yes We Can Regulate Culture with Copyright Law
Part 10 – Lawrence Lessig = Awesome

And now on to Part 11, the final post….

If I’ve driven any point home in my last ten posts, its been that freedom of speech is a basic, essential characteristic of western society. The Internet – what was largely an unanticipated consequence of military funded research – has turned out to be the most important democratizing force in the history of the world.

The Internet’s success has largely been due to its free and open nature. Its importance to the functions of western democracy, as well as its power to bring information and democracy to the rest of the world should not be underestimated. The flourishing of a “remix culture” has made possible new forms of social expression and Internet conversations that give power and influence to the young people of the world.

The Internet has been such a powerful force in the world for freedom of thought, freedom of information, and freedom of expression. We should not let anyone — especially powerful companies and governments — mess with our Internet.

It’s our job to increase the protection for free speech on the Internet and do our best to reform out-of-date and unjust government policies. We are the only ones who can protect our rights from those who seek to oppress us.

And with that, I will end my final post on this topic. Whew! Glad that’s over! Hopefully I haven’t bored anyone too much over the past few weeks. If I did my job then hopefully you learned something new and feel motivated and excited about freedom of speech on the net and want to support new and better copyright laws, net neutrality, and other related initiatives!

If you’d like further reading, then check out SaveTheInternet.com and SaveTheNews.org.

Bibliographic notes for the last 11 posts:

“Approximate Minimum Total CC Licensed Works.” Chart. Metrics – CC Wiki. 18 May 2009 <http://wiki.creativecommons.org/Metrics>.

Cheng, Jacqui. “Evidence Mounts that Comcast is Targeting BitTorrent Traffic.” Ars Technica. 18 May 2009 <http://arstechnica.com/old/content/2007/10/evidence-mounts-that-comcast-is-targeting-bittorrent-traffic.ars>.

“Choosing Your Blogging Platform: Blogger or WordPress.” Seo Talk with Neuracom. 18 May 2009 <http://blog.neuracom.com/blogging/>.

“Concentration of Media Ownership.” Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 18 May 2009 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_consolidation#An_opposite_evolution:_massive_diversification_via_citizen_media>.

Copps, Michael J. “Statement of Commisioner.” En Banc Hearing on Broadband Network Management Practices. Stanford University, Palo Alto. 17 Apr. 2008. Save The Internet. 18 May 2009 <http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-281625A1.pdf>.

“Corporate Media and Threat to Democracy.” Third World Traveler. 18 May 2009 <http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Corporate_Media/CorpMedia_ThreatDemocracy.html>.

Elliot, Steve. “Why Net Neutrality Matters: Protect Internet Freedom – Or Lose It.” Reality Catcher. 18 May 2009 <http://realitycatcher-alapoet.blogspot.com/2008/06/support-net-neutrality-or-internet.html>.

“Frequently Asked Questions – CC Wiki.” Creative Commons Wiki. 18 May 2009 <http://wiki.creativecommons.org/FAQ>.

Greenburg, Steve. “Internet Censorship.” Cartoon. 13 July 1996. 18 May 2009 <http://greenberg-art.com/.Toons/.Toons,%20Media/InternetBomb.html>.

“Hacking for Christ.” MozillaZine Weblogs. 18 May 2009 <http://weblogs.mozillazine.org/gerv/archives/2007/06/>.

Hassan, Robert. The Information Society: Cyber Dreams and Digital Nightmares. Polity.

Hepworth, Katherine. “Yes We Can: Barack Obama, Graphic Design and Liberal Democratic Process.” Re-public : Re-imagining Democracy. 18 May 2009 <http://www.re-public.gr/en/?p=352>.

Hertsgaard, Mark. On Bended Knee: The Press and the Reagan Presidency. New York: Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 1988.

“Internet Free Speech.” Public Citizen. 18 May 2009 <http://www.citizen.org/litigation/briefs/IntFreeSpch/>.

Lessig, Lawrence. “Keeping Culture Free.” New Zealand, Auckland. Blip.TV. 18 May 2009 <http://lessig.blip.tv/file/1440091/>.

“Media Control.” Third World Traveler. 18 May 2009 <http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Media_control_propaganda/Media_Control.html>.

“Media Reform Information Center.” Corporate Accountability Project. 18 May 2009 <http://www.corporations.org/media/>.

Mill, John S. On Liberty. 18 May 2009 <http://books.google.com/books?id=uWAJAAAAQAAJ>.

“Network Neutrality in the United States.” Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 18 May 2009 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_neutrality_in_the_United_States>.

“Panel Discussion 2 ? Consumer Access to Emerging Internet Technologies and Applications.” VON TV – The Vision of IP Communications. 18 May 2009 <http://www.vontv.net/events/080417/>.

“Quotes on Democracy, Freedom and Corporate Power.” Reclaim Democracy! Revoke Corporate Corruption of American Democracy. 18 May 2009 <http://www.reclaimdemocracy.org/corporate_quotes_archive.html>.

“Remix Culture.” Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 18 May 2009 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remix_culture>.

Ringmar, Erik. Blogger’s Manifesto: Free Speech and Censorship in the Age of the Internet. London: Anthem P, 2007.

Ripples of Hope: Great American Civil Rights Speeches. New York: Basic Civitas Books, 2003. 18 May 2009 <http://books.google.com/books?id=jZ7trG1zF7UC&pg=PA283&lpg=PA283&&source=bl&ots=fh7jxaoedZ&sig=LJsD-Jw2XZik1QvCxNth892ZZg8&hl=en&ei=4usRSq_JI4fCswOQrozgDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1>.

Sanchez, Camilo. Net Neutrality Logo. Digital image. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 18 May 2009 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:NetNeutrality_logo.svg>.

Schenck, Ernie. “This Is The Blogosphere. Quick, Find Your Brand.” Hill | Holliday. 18 May 2009 <http://www.hhcc.com/?p=323>.

“Stanford – FCC Public Hearing on the Future of the Internet.” Save the Internet. 18 May 2009 <http://www.savetheinternet.com/=stanford>.

“State of the Blogosphere 2008.” Technorati Blog. Ed. Technorati. 18 May 2009 <http://technorati.com/blogging/state-of-the-blogosphere>.

Wu, Tim. “Network Neutrality FAQ.” Tim Wu’s Home Page. 18 May 2009 <http://timwu.org/network_neutrality.html>.

Yang, Catherine. “The FCC’s Loner is No Longer So Lonely.” BusinessWeek 24 Mar. 2003.

You Write What You’re Told! Digital image. Propaganda and War. 18 May 2009 <http://www.media-studies.ca/articles/war_propaganda.htm>.

YouTube.com. 18 May 2009 <http://www.youtube.com>.

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