Cyberspace and Society
Week Thirteen: Controversies About the Future of the WEB
Fall 2008

This week's quiz will be offered three times.  Your score will be your highest on any of the three.  The reading list and quizzes will be firmed up after Thanksgiving weekend.
     Early Bird closes Friday 5 p.m. December 5
     Saturday Special closes Saturday 5 p.m. December 6
     Last Chance closes Monday 10 a.m. December 8

This week we will be looking at some recent news and some recent controversies about Cybperspace.  We start with a debate about platforms.  Will most functions remain on the open Internet or will we go to closed platforms controlled by corporations either because they offere a better service or because the spam and other problems overwhelm the open WEB?

Readings and Video

Recent News
C
itizen journalists provide glimpses into Attacks in Mumbai
You're Leaving a Digital Trail:  Should you care?

Corporate Control vs. Freedom to Innovate
Time:  Who will Rule the New Internet? 
Future of the Internet Video Presentation by Zittrain
Zittrain's summary of his argument.
Review of Zittrain's Book by Nate Anderson.
Review of Zittrain's Book by Adam Thierer

This set of readings addresses the issue of "net neutrality."  Will bandwith go equally to all WEB sites or will major companies be able to purchase better access allowing them to afford to supply videos and other high bandwith applications more effectively?
Save the Internet:  Frequently Asked Questions.
Google's Guide to Net Neutrality.
The Web's Worst New Idea
Common Sense About Net Neutrality
Father of Internet Warns Against Net Neutrality

Finally, the issue of censorship of the InternetCensorship of the Internet: 
Wikipedia:  Internet Censorship -  read through the entry for Yemen.
Google Spells Censorship in China.
Google's defense of its presence in China
 Censorship by Google:  Wikipedia
To Screen or Not to Screen:  Libraries Confront Internet Access
Video:  The Internet is the greatest force for democrazy.  Oxford Union Debate - Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia
Video:  the Internet is not the greatest force for Democracy.  Zittrain Oxford union debate.