Free Expression in the Age of the Internet: Social and Legal Boundaries

by Lipschultz,Jeremy

• ISBN13: 9780813391137
• ISBN10: 081339113X
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 1999-12-10
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

"The Internet poses challenges to traditional social and legal views of free expression, including libel, privacy, and copyright issues.

Author Biography

Jeremy Lipschultz is acting communication chair and professor at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations	ix
Preface	xiii
List of Acronyms	xv
Social Communication Theory of Free Expression: Politics and the Internet	1	(34)
The Internet as a Vehicle for Understanding Free Expression	9	(6)
The Boundaries of Free Expression	15	(7)
The Internet as Print and Broadcast	22	(1)
Political Considerations of Internet Regulation	23	(1)
Political Considerations in Understanding Free Expression	24	(1)
The Trouble with Traditional Legal Thinking	25	(2)
The Role of Social Theories in Understanding Free Expression	27	(2)
The Challenge to the Communications Decency Act: Reno v. ACLU	29	(2)
The Implications for Free Expression	31	(1)
Focusing Social Understanding of Free Expression	31	(3)
Chapter Summary	34	(1)
Discussion Questions	34	(1)
A Historical Look at Traditional Legal Thought on Free Expression	35	(24)
Common-Law Approaches	40	(2)
Prior Restraint	42	(1)
Colonial Influences	43	(3)
Conduct and Other Forms of Free Expression	46	(2)
Constitutional Impact	48	(3)
Twentieth-Century Approaches	51	(1)
Emergence of the Marketplace of Ideas	51	(1)
Criticisms of the Marketplace of Ideas	52	(1)
Calls for Social Responsibility	53	(2)
Other Approaches	55	(1)
First Amendment Implications	56	(1)
Chapter Summary	57	(1)
Discussion Questions	57	(2)
Broadcast Versus Print Models of Free Expression	59	(20)
Public Interest, Convenience, and Necessity	60	(2)
Spectrum Scarcity	62	(2)
Fiduciary Responsibilities and Licensing	64	(1)
Zoning Content	65	(1)
The Politics of Regulation	66	(1)
Regulation of Fairness	67	(1)
Electoral Considerations	68	(1)
Pornography, Obscenity, and Indecency	69	(1)
TRAC and the Criticisms of the Distinctions	70	(6)
Chapter Summary	76	(1)
Disscussion Questions	76	(3)
Normative Legal Versus Social Theory Approaches to Free Expression	79	(18)
Normative Versus Social Thought	80	(2)
Libel Laws	82	(1)
Free Expression as the Product of Human Behavior	83	(5)
Social Constraints	88	(3)
Persuasion, Propaganda, and Public Opinion	91	(2)
Research Limitations	93	(1)
Political and Economic Considerations	94	(2)
Chapter Summary	96	(1)
Discussion Questions,	96	(1)
Reno v. ACLU: A Legal Test in the Age of the Internet	97	(32)
The Facts of the Case	98	(1)
The Legal Issues	99	(5)
The Reasoning of the Court	104	(1)
The Decision of the Court	104	(8)
Implications for the Future of Internet Regulation	112	(1)
Postscript	113	(14)
Chapter Summary	127	(1)
Discussion Questions	127	(2)
The Drudge Report and the Clinton Scandal: A Case Study in Internet Content	129	(44)
Political Considerations	131	(15)
The Nature of the Report	146	(1)
Into the Public Limelight	147	(5)
The Impact of Free Expression in a Mediated World	152	(2)
Epilogue to the Drudge Story	154	(9)
Chapter Summary	163	(9)
Discussion Questions	172	(1)
A Survey of the Range of Internet Content	173	(28)
Corporate Media Sites	175	(8)
Educational Sites	183	(3)
Government Sites	186	(1)
Private and Other Sites	187	(10)
Chapter Summary	197	(2)
Discussion Questions	199	(2)
E-mail, Listservs, and Other Personal Forms of Free Expression	201	(22)
What is Known About E-mail as Communication	202	(1)
Interest Groups in Communication	203	(2)
Personal Forms of Free Expression	205	(16)
Chapter Summary	221	(1)
Discussion Questions	221	(2)
The Special Case of Invasion of Privacy	223	(16)
The Law of Privacy	226	(2)
Access to Information	228	(1)
Privacy as a Social Value	229	(1)
Privacy in an Electronic Age	230	(4)
Ethical and Social Constraints	234	(2)
Chapter Summary	236	(1)
Discussion Questions	237	(2)
Property and Commercial Rights in a Digital Age	239	(22)
Copyright Considerations	241	(6)
Trademark Issues	247	(4)
Patents	251	(1)
Fair Use	251	(1)
Commercial Speech	252	(1)
The Microsoft Case	253	(3)
Other Business Issues	256	(1)
Ethical and Social Constraints	257	(3)
Chapter Summary	260	(1)
Discussion Questions	260	(1)
Comparative International Issues	261	(16)
National Limitations of Law	263	(1)
International Legal Concerns	264	(1)
Cross-Cultural Considerations of Social Constraints	265	(11)
Chapter Summary	276	(1)
Discussion Questions	276	(1)
Toward Thinking About Free Expression in a Digital in a Digital Age	277	(28)
Social Communication Theory Revisited	286	(2)
Social, Political, and Economic Boundaries	288	(2)
Beyond the Internet	290	(1)
The Future of Digital Communication	291	(14)
Chapter Summary	305	(1)
Discussion Questions	305	(1)
Glossary	305	(4)
References	309	(12)
Index	321