Today the class split up into small groups to discuss the following questions and share their responses. All written responses are collected below. These are but a few of the large number of ethical and social issues related to the Internet. Additional issues are addressed in our textbook, in the Technology In Focus section on Ethics between chapters 3 and 4.

Numbers in parentheses represent how many groups had the same response. Did not use it in the Legal Boundaries issues.

Issue: legal boundaries

Internet gambling is illegal in the U.S. All internet gambling web sites are based outside the U.S. yet an estimated 50% of their revenue comes from Americans. Should those sites be prohibited from operating? Why or why not?

• No, because it is too hard to monitor users, accounts, etc
• Should be prohibited because it is illegal
• Yes, we should legalize internet gambling in the U.S. therefore the profits stay in the U.S.
• Their profits do not contribute to the GDP and they don't pay taxes so we thing they should be prohibited.
• No, these sites should not be porhibited because people should be albe to do what they want with their money
• They should be allowed to operate inside the U.S. so they can be taxed by our government.

In France, it is illegal to buy and sell Nazi memorabilia but in the U.S. this is legal. Should eBay, which is based in the U.S. but accessible in France, prohibit the auction of such items? Why or why not?

• No, because it is based in the U.S. where it is legal.
• Should be prohibited because it is illegal
• Ebay shouldn't prohibit these sales because America along with any other people have a righ to buy these products.
• It should be legal for Ebay to sell it, but illegal to bringi t through customs or the mail.
• Nazi memorabilia shoudl be legal. Since it does not harm people it should be okay to sell.
• The laws of other countries shoudln't direct U.S. businesses, so no Ebay should not prohibit these auctions.
• Instructor note: Ebay has prohibited the auction of Nazi memorabilia since 2001. This was a business, not a legal, decision.

Hate groups worldwide use Internet servers based in the U.S. to communicate with their members and recruit new members. Should U.S. servers be prohibited from containing or communicating hateful material? Why or why not?

• No, because it would violate our freedoms.
• They're trying to hurt someone so they should be prohibited.
• Hate groups should not be prohibited from using U.S. servers because everyone is entitled to their opinion.
• You can't limit it because it would be difficult to draw a line. Plus it goes against freedom of speech.
• If the organizations are intending or planning on harming people then the servers should be blocked.
• No, because it violates free speech.

Would your answer be different if “Terrorist organizations” were substituted for “Hate groups”?

• We would change our answer to YES because it endangers people.
• Terrorist organizations shouldn't be restricted as long as they aren't committing federal offenses.
• We would change our answer to YES if used by terrorists.

Issue: digital divide

Digital Divide: The gap between people who have effective access to information technology and the Internet and those who do not.

What kinds of barriers contribute to this gap?

• (6) money
• (3) government restrictions
• (3) limited knowledge and education
• (2) underdevelopment
• (2) availability of computers
• lack of electricity

How can this gap be narrowed?

• (3) Donating money
• (2) public computers
• (2) remove government restrictions
• (2) low cost computers
• creating government programs
• free acccess
• wide availability
• first solve more important issues like food

The One Laptop Per Child program (www.laptop.org) aims to bridge the gap by providing children in developing countries with XO computers. The XO is a low-cost, rugged, energy-efficient laptop computer with wireless Internet access capability. What would be the major challenges of a program like this?

• (5) money
• (2) teaching them how to use it
• (2) wide availability
• (2) theft of computers
• communicating with children receiving laptops
• people receiving them may not accept because they are not used to them
• different types of information that each country would want to prohibit
• limited availability of electricity
• establishing wireless infrastructure in developing country
• being able to repair them

Issue: medical information

It is possible for a person’s medical history to be stored in databases located on servers accessible via the Internet (not necessarily the Web).

What are the benefits of having medical history information available online?

• (6) easy access and learning
• (3) less time and more convenient
• family history
• transferring information to doctor's offices
• unlimited storage space
• can use the information to analyze genetic risks of disease
• reduces storage costs
• More eco-friendly

What are the risks of having medical history information available online?

• (4) identity theft
• (2) violation of privacy
• (2) insurance companies using info
• blackmail
• politicians use medical info to bash opponents
• drug addicts writing own prescriptions