of the : & Feross Aboukhadijeh

Freedom of Speech on the Internet: Censorship and Copyright Law Feross Aboukhadijeh

Evolution of my topic

Lawrence Lessig

Lawrence Lessig Professor of law at Stanford Law School Founder of the Stanford Center for Internet and Society Leader in the fight to preserve freedom on the Internet

Professor of law at Stanford Law School

Founder of the Stanford Center for Internet and Society

Leader in the fight to preserve freedom on the Internet

Leaving Stanford 

Background

democracy

democracy

right

right

express themselves freely

express themselves freely

“ the freedom of speech; the right to express and communicate ideas, to set oneself apart from the dumb beasts of field and forest . . .” -- Robert F. Kennedy

“ the freedom of speech; the right to express and communicate ideas, to set oneself apart from the dumb beasts of field and forest . . .” -- Robert F. Kennedy

so important

so important

unfavorable or offensive speech should be protected

unfavorable or offensive speech should be protected

single most important right

single most important right

sets Western liberal democracies apart

sets Western liberal democracies apart

repressed

Media control in the U.S. Time Warner Disney News Corporation Bertelsmann (of Germany) Viacom

Time Warner

Disney

News Corporation

Bertelsmann (of Germany)

Viacom

Nearly every piece of media that you consume comes from one of these 5 companies…

The News Corporation Empire 9 satellite television networks 100 cable channels 175 newspapers 40 book imprints 40 television stations 1 movie studio

9 satellite television networks

100 cable channels

175 newspapers

40 book imprints

40 television stations

1 movie studio

The News Corporation Empire U.S. television network reaches 280,000,000 people. Asian satellite network reaches 300,000,000 people. Cable channels reach 300,000,000 homes. Magazines reach 28,000,000 people.

U.S. television network reaches 280,000,000 people.

Asian satellite network reaches 300,000,000 people.

Cable channels reach 300,000,000 homes.

Magazines reach 28,000,000 people.

4.7 billion people ¾ world’s population

4.7 billion people

¾ world’s population

“ Political freedom is a society's safety valve, allowing the passionately critical a nonviolent way to express their dissatisfaction with the status quo.” – David Cole, “Quotes on Democracy”

“ Political freedom is a society's safety valve, allowing the passionately critical a nonviolent way to express their dissatisfaction with the status quo.”

– David Cole, “Quotes on Democracy”

What happens when the means to express this political freedom are controlled by interests that wish to maintain the status quo?

What happens when the means to express this political freedom are controlled by interests that wish to maintain the status quo?

Enter the Internet

1

2

3

(No funny picture, sorry.)

Reversing the media consolidation trend

No filters on what can be said No editors No commercial interests to prevent the truth from being reported

No filters on what can be said

No editors

No commercial interests to prevent the truth from being reported

media consumers

media creators

The free Internet needs to be preserved at all costs

Two main threats ISP censorship Oppressive copyright law

ISP censorship

Oppressive copyright law

ISP Censorship

FCC comes to Stanford On April 17th 2008, over 600 people gathered at Stanford to voice their opinions to the FCC. 3 Stanford professors from the Stanford Center for Internet and Society were in attendance.

On April 17th 2008, over 600 people gathered at Stanford to voice their opinions to the FCC.

3 Stanford professors from the Stanford Center for Internet and Society were in attendance.

Lawrence Lessig… “ [Net neutrality is] the thing that makes it all transparent, it’s open, anybody can do anything . . . It gave us transparency, openness, and freedom”

“ [Net neutrality is] the thing that makes it all transparent, it’s open, anybody can do anything . . . It gave us transparency, openness, and freedom”

Without Net Neutrality ISPs can censor controversial speech ISPs can block or slow down applications that compete with the ISP’s own services ISPs can slow down access to websites that don’t pay a fee.

ISPs can censor controversial speech

ISPs can block or slow down applications that compete with the ISP’s own services

ISPs can slow down access to websites that don’t pay a fee.

Death to freedom on the Internet

Worst case

Second threat

Lawrence Lessig Outspoken advocate for copyright law reform Proposing reduced legal restrictions on copyrights and trademarks in the digital realm

Outspoken advocate for copyright law reform

Proposing reduced legal restrictions on copyrights and trademarks in the digital realm

single most important issue

Why is copyright law reform important?

How can copyright law be oppressive ?

regulation of culture

New form of Internet culture: “remix culture”

Purpose of copyright “ To promote the progress of science and the useful arts…” Temporary monopoly Incentive to create

“ To promote the progress of science and the useful arts…”

Temporary monopoly

Incentive to create

Key issue Copyright takes effect whenever a copy is made. In the digital world, every use of content makes a copy.

Copyright takes effect whenever a copy is made.

In the digital world, every use of content makes a copy.

Non-digital world

Digital world

regulation of culture

Examples of copyright violations on the Internet

Lawrence Lessig The work of Stanford professors – Lawrence Lessig in particular – has increased the protection of free speech on the Internet and been instrumental in reforming out-of-date and unjust government policies.

The work of Stanford professors – Lawrence Lessig in particular – has increased the protection of free speech on the Internet and been instrumental in reforming out-of-date and unjust government policies.

What will the Internet look like in 20 years?