Lecture 3 Freedom of speech IT and Ethics Lecture 3 Freedom of speech 1/3/2019 Kai Kimppa, IT Department, Information Systems

What do we need freedom of expression for? To express agreed upon ideas? Or to express ideas which are controversial? Late case (not from the Internet): Pictures of Mohammed which depict him (which in itself is a problem) in unfavourable ways which have hurt the feelings of the Muslim society Similar pictures of Christian functioners commonplace (Kaleva) Does this promote or discourage discussion on the potential problems claimed? Problem: discussion too sensitive, let’s fire it up a bit Another problem: difficult to be a member of society in Denmark (or in EU) already if a Muslim Cf. Nazi pictures of Jews from previous century 1/3/2019 Kai Kimppa, IT Department, Information Systems

Kai Kimppa, IT Department, Information Systems Vedder & Wachbroit (2003) Reliability of information on the Internet: Some distinctions Internet Originally ‘total’ freedom of speech …for those who could connect to the ‘Net Social pressures Technological pressures -> Own culture developed Reliability of information? Random site? Wikipedia? According to late studies, almost comparable to the best encyclopaedias available -> Web-literacy? 1/3/2019 Kai Kimppa, IT Department, Information Systems

User base grown exponentially Wresch (2003) Perspectives on the right to publish: Global inequalities, digital publications, and the legacy of revolutionary France User base grown exponentially No longer (in the west) a mono-culture group Social pressures localised Technological pressures frowned upon Possibilities to publish ones views? Most of humanity not able—and freedom of expression becoming more limited all the time already Blogs a new development which enables more freedom of expression http://egyptiansandmonkey.blogspot.com Or to even view… 1/3/2019 Kai Kimppa, IT Department, Information Systems

Kai Kimppa, IT Department, Information Systems E-mail Restricting employees to using e-mail to business only Liability issues; some lawsuits even handled due to insulting e-mails Lesson: read what you are about to send before you send it… Spam? Freedom of speech? 1/3/2019 Kai Kimppa, IT Department, Information Systems

Kai Kimppa, IT Department, Information Systems USENET news Groups try to stick to their topics Misbehaving persons harassed out of the group (sometimes successfully, other times not) Some groups international -> conflicting cultures Spam? Freedom of speech? Most groups unmoderated; basically one can send anything there Netiquette http://www.nixu.fi/~kiravuo/etiketti/ 1/3/2019 Kai Kimppa, IT Department, Information Systems

Kai Kimppa, IT Department, Information Systems Bulletin boards Some moderated, others cleaned afterwards, some not moderated in any manner (except law) Note, that there was an attempt to include this in the law in Finland, that the bulletin board keeper would be accountable for messages published Various issues Often offered with another service Medical questions Wedding boards Etc. Many newspapers and journals have bulletin boards available in the net. Normal restrictions apply (i.e. per printed) – or do they? 1/3/2019 Kai Kimppa, IT Department, Information Systems

Kai Kimppa, IT Department, Information Systems IRC Most channels in IRC moderated Moderators have ‘absolute power’ within the channel Freedom of speech guaranteed by anyone being able to create a channel of their choice – excluding the ones already created (which still means unlimited amount, but not necessarily as good choices) Freedom of speech also guaranteed by +channels, where moderation not possible 1/3/2019 Kai Kimppa, IT Department, Information Systems

Kai Kimppa, IT Department, Information Systems Chats Some moderated, others not Mainly ‘dating’ or other ‘light’ issues such as hobbies but more serious ones coming as well Some related to another media Yle-X, Kiss FM, various television shows etc. Some offered as extended services from some organization selling something 1/3/2019 Kai Kimppa, IT Department, Information Systems

Kai Kimppa, IT Department, Information Systems Blogs Anyone can put up a blog – if they have the resources, which are most often negligible (at least in the west) Some blogs in some countries can be shut down for various reasons. Examples: France: Hate sites; Promoting Nazism for example illegal (Yahoo! sales of Nazi-regalia illegal in France -> US sales must be blocked) Finland: Sites that insult others illegal Some libraries in Finland use “parental control” programs which limit access to certain pages 1/3/2019 Kai Kimppa, IT Department, Information Systems

Restrictions to free speech Moderation Personal information required? Access to indecent material Access to violent material Parental controls Hate-sites, –mails, –news etc. Culture dependent, however Critical ethics have questioned the freedom of speech as western culture imperialism – the speakers are dominantly western 1/3/2019 Kai Kimppa, IT Department, Information Systems

Restrictions by countries Some countries restrict some forms of expression in the net (see France and Finland as examples previously) Other countries try to control all if not most kinds of free speech Muslim nations (not all, but arab ones especially) As a curiosity: the system for Saudi-Arabia was designed and implemented by Finns… China Singapore 1/3/2019 Kai Kimppa, IT Department, Information Systems

Digital Rights Management Kerr & Bailey (2004) The Implications of Digital Rights Management for Privacy and Freedom of Expression Digital Rights Management Wide adaption of DRM SW Can reduce Fair Use Currently with DMCA (Digital Millenium Copyright Act) even legal fair use practices not possible with DRMd media Can reduce Public Domain Currently with DMCA even works which belong to public domain not necessarily accessible due to DRMs 1/3/2019 Kai Kimppa, IT Department, Information Systems

Kai Kimppa, IT Department, Information Systems Demonstration case How have Blogs affected the freedom of speech? Read a few blogs, try to find some controversial ones In an international context, how can things published in Blogs be controlled? Should they be controlled? 1/3/2019 Kai Kimppa, IT Department, Information Systems