Friday, January 4, 2013

Should Internet Service Knowledge Be Included When Making Internet Law?

By Judy Densient


Twenty twelve saw many records being broken with internet theft of all kinds. While most of us only use the internet for good things like staying in touch with family and friends, still others were found to be constantly testing the security of many home and industry computer systems.

In government, the buzz has been about who is in charge of making and enforcing internet law. This is because many of these individuals are not only not fluent, but not computer literate at all. As a result, the ideas they propose for regulation are irrational and have much difficulty being understood by those with lots of exposure to technology.

A number of people who are charged with creating the rules surrounding the internet are of digital immigrant age. That is to say, they are old enough to have grown up without technology, but have adapted quite well to how to use the tools that are available to them. However, they likely do not have specialized knowledge about what internet service providers can offer in terms of help to enforce the laws.

Although it is impossible to turn a digital immigrant into a digital native, hiring digital natives to work in the enforcement of internet law can be a solution. Because digital natives have been around technology all of their lives, they know how internet service providers in your area not only operate, but handle barriers. This specialized knowledge can result in more feasible laws being created.

Something that is also being discussed among digital natives and immigrants alike is the cycle of fear that can result from those not fluent in internet services being in charge of making internet law. We fear what we do not understand, and those who don't understand how the internet works may very well be ultimately creating more panic among the public than is necessary.

Among those who observe societal changes, there is much worry about this species of fear. With today's internet service being available to nearly all the world, fear can reach fever pitch in a very short time, which can ultimately lead to mass panic. But this is avoidable if irrational fears are counterbalanced with truth that has been based on the knowledge of experts.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment