To comply with federal legislation prohibiting discrimination, institutions may find it necessary to become snoops and censors, thereby exposing themselves to liability for acting contrary to the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, which prohibits such monitoring of e-mail.
It seems clear that separate cyberspaces should be demarcated for public or private use and that the differences between them must be recognized … In order to avoid confusion, a cyberspace needs to be clear whether it is a private forum or a public forum.
Technology is rapidly transforming the information industry. A computerized database is the functional equivalent of a more traditional news vendor, and the inconsistent application of a lower standard of liability to an electronic news distributor such as Compuserve, than that which is applied to a public library, book store, or newsstand would impose an undue burden on the free flow of information.
We now have within our grasp a technology designed to bring together like-minded individuals, regardless of where they live, work, or play, to engage in the creation of a new type of democratic community: a community unbounded by geographical, temporal, or other physical barriers.
Online conversants will pour forth such cybernetic dreams as computers driven by thoughts, implanted memory chips, bionic limbs and, of course, the full-blown desire to have one’s brain patched directly into “cyberspace,” the globally-connected computer networks. The romantic allure of the “cyborg” seems to captivate the fringes of digital culture, especially on the nets.
Bricklin saw the future for computer technology in putting video on people’s desks that would allow them to have face-to-face meetings with customers, service providers, and associates.
The planet will not have to go to one lousy place [Microsoft] for desktop operating systems and productivity tools.
I strongly believe that we can solve two problems with technology. One is communication; more wars are caused by miscommunication than anything else, and technology can help there. The other is ignorance. With technology, we can address the problem with things like distance learning. And we can return to the idea of the master craftsmen teaching apprentices. We can leverage the skills and experience of the really clever and make them accessible to everyone.
Cyberspace may give freedom of speech more muscle than the First Amendment does, says Godwin. Indeed, it may already “have become literally impossible for a government to shut people up.”
Within the next few years, business-to-consumer electronic commerce could begin to replace much of the world’s existing business infrastructure.