The Uncertain Future of Free Expression
I just co-authored an article in Truthdig on what we call "e-speech" -- freedom of expression in digital media. The article attempts to pull several issues (e.g. net neutrality, electronic privacy, walled gardens, asymmetrical access) together under one umbrella, and to propose market- and technology-based solutions to these challenges.His co-author, tech journalist Masha Zager, also happens to also be his mom. Says Aram, "It's the first thing we've written together since I was in grade school!" Snip from the piece:
Although no one is slowing down or opening your posted letters, spying on your face-to-face conversations or restricting your physical ability to make music, all of these barriers to free speech—and more—are becoming increasingly prevalent in the world of digital communications. And as tools like the Web, e-mail, voice over IP, Internet video, mobile phones and peer-to-peer file sharing become increasingly vital to our relationships with family, friends, colleagues, businesses and government institutions, these limitations on speech and threats to our privacy are becoming increasingly important civil rights issues.E-Speech: The (Uncertain) Future of Free Expression (Thanks, Noah Shachtman)When we talk about unequal access to computers and other digital communication technologies, we speak about the “digital divide.” When we talk about the concentrated ownership of the Internet access business, we can point to a simple, powerful statistic: Four companies control nearly 60 percent of the American ISP market, and four companies control nearly 90 percent of the American mobile phone market. But there’s no simple way to talk about the interrelated issues of electronic surveillance, network neutrality, asymmetry and “walled garden” technologies that collectively threaten free expression in the digital world.
Without a name for the big picture, it’s difficult to do anything about it. Imagine trying to reverse global warming, reduce pollution and save species from extinction without the umbrella of the word environmentalism connecting the issues. Therefore, we propose the term e-speech as a concept to unite these issues, and to discuss potential solutions to the problem they collectively pose.
the latest
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e-speech, e-speech.... espeech, espee...esp... espers
think Espeech might catch on. How many words for snow do you know?
There are small amount of cutbacks on free expression in postal mail in the US - or at least attempts at it - with requirements that certain packages cannot be mailed w/o going to the counter and also videotaping customers in post offices. After the Sept 11 2001 attacks I heard discussion of efforts to not allow anonymous mail. Not much has happened, but it is a threat.
JT
chck ths st t: http://www.thnwvt.cm/
interesting site, Anaid, but on the wrong thread completely.
Hrmm... E-speech, to me, would connotate any kind of speech in a digital format. I wouldn't really associate it with freedom of expression. Be careful when giving life to your buzzwords!
No, no, E-speech is when you can't stop babbling to anyone nearby about how much you love them and want to give them a hug.
Seriously though, I dig it. And the comparison to environmentalism is especially apt: both domains of activism involve a considerable amount of science and technical background. As in, most people don't really understand exactly what dioxins are and why they're dangerous, or what exactly will happen to an ecosystem if a species of bird disappears, but those issues have been tied into this broad campaign called environmentalism, which lots of people can relate to and get behind, even though they're not environmental scientists.
We need the same kind of thing for internet activism, tie up all these little smart technical issues into a banner which non-technical people can understand on a more general, principled level.
Please excuse my ignorance for asking but could someone explain “walled garden” technology? I try to stay as current as I can for an oldster and this term is a new on me.
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Alessandro,
You're free to say whatever you want on your own blog. We don't come to your house to shit in your shoe. Return the favor, please.
@8 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walled_garden_(media)
Alessandro; you've no manners. Why should anyone talk to you?
Thanks Takuan. I tried Wikipedia first and got nothing. Probably because I had it in quotes like I typed it in my post above.
Anaid, that link will be fine if you post it in a more appropriate thread, and explain more about it when you do.
Alessandro, you're just ticked because we won't let you say "----". We've gone around on this set of issues half a dozen times. As usual, I'm telling you to take it to the moderation guidelines thread.
Hmm... Is anyone watching this? The joke's on you. Trust me.
I'm not ticked about old news. No one cares about the word "----". I'm concerned about what this behavior here really means for free expression.
It's like Stepford Wives around here. I am constantly being told by you folks to say what I want to say in my own blog. I actually do that without being told. Check it out sometime. Make some nasty comments. They'll stay put right where you leave them every time. Comments exist for commentary. If you offer them to me, I will use them. Freely. Freely expressing my views on free expression. The button says 'POST.' So I POST. Freedom, baby. Gotta love it honey.
your story has become tiresome
MySpace and Facebook are walled gardens of personal information. Whereas Friend of a Friend (FOAF) is an open protocol.
AIM, Y!, and MSN Messager are walled gardens. Whereas Jabber is an open protocol.
Websites relying on Adobe Flash are walled gardens. Whereas websites relying on the Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) use an open protocol.
much better, thanks Zuzu!
Takuan, of course it's tiresome. The details are always tiresome. Long books are tiresome. Thinking is tiresome. I love tiresome. I live for it. I dwell on it. I make it more tiresome. I beat it until it's a dead horse. I am the definition of tiresome. If you want tiresome, come to me. I've got it on discount this week only.