Chapter: Responsibilities for Information on the Internet

Quote:

Unfortunately, the law does not offer many clues as to this question. With regard to information that is not in itself illegal, the possibilities of invoking legal regulation are very limited. Traditionally, the law approaches the problematic consequences of information as a liability problem. As I suggested already in Section 14.3, this approach is insufficient. Liability only arises after the harm and offence have really taken place. Thus, the preventive potential with regard to possible harm and offence and to risks is severely limited. Establishing liability for information is further complicated, because of difficulties of identifying causal relationships, of giving due consideration to the perspectives of content providers and users, and—sometimes— of balancing the good of establishing liability against information freedoms.

What I expect to learn:

To define the responsibilities for information on the internet

Review:                    

True that the law we have now don’t really include electronic information as one of its focus because information technology back then was not even known to exist.

However, I do think that the government is allowing more people to be concerned with information being available everywhere with the internet. We, as online users, have our own responsibilities in handling our own source of information – ourselves. The government, in my point of view, should be more concerned in this issue but other than that, we need to take action ourselves because the internet is a huge place for information to be spread and that alone is not really something I would think as just a petty file share. Of course, file sharing is another thing but what about copyright? Piracy? Infringement? There are a lot of issues we have to dwell with right after knowing what it is that needs to be done but still, be responsible enough to take extra protective measures with what you do online.

I know a lot of people who regret doing something online because they had little idea of what will happen like in my friend’s case, she uploaded a personal picture of her in her profile the first time she became a member as a private photo without realizing that the website’s privacy policy and protection application is still less of a help. Some scary guy saved her picture and started uploading it to his profile and allowing other people to post rude and appalling comments about her. That alone is a case of the lack of knowledge about internet.

What I learned:

·         Conditions of responsibility

·         ISPs AND CLEARLY HARMFUL OR OFFENSIVE INFORMATION

·         Information in general

·         THE RESPONSIBILITIES INVOLVED

o    The creation of new credibility-conferring systems, such as certification systems, allowing us to use pedigree criteria with regard to (online) information, when such systems are lacking.

o    Raising the visibility of indicators or markers of reliability of information (according to pedigree criteria).

o    Raising expertise and background knowledge in all users (to enable them to recognize reliability on the basis of pedigree criteria).

o    Raising the awareness of the varying qualities of information.

Integrative Questions:            

1.    What are the conditions of responsibility?

2.    What type of responsibility did this chapter focus on?

3.    What is information in general?

4.    What are the responsibilities involved?

5.    Give one responsibility that you think should be included.