Legal & Ethical Issues Related to the Internet

There are many diverse legal/ethical issues related to the Internet. It is, therefore, difficult to pinpoint one specific issue that is more important or pressing than the rest. The following are several issues that I think are very prevalent in today's Internet-dominant environment.

1. Copyright Violations

The Internet has opened all sorts of doors for plagiarism and other copyright violations, (which are both unethical and illegal.) It is all too easy to infringe on copyrighted photos, videos, software and music. Issues of copyright infringement can be remedied with "Terms and Conditions of Use" statements, explaining an organization's policy for reproduction of its materials.

2. General Disclosure Issues

As discussed in class, a prominent ethical issue found in our digital world deals with disclosure. Whether it be disclosure of identity, relationships, or compensation... Creating a transparent and honest environment is important for all Internet users. WOMMA's Ethics Code provides a great example of a tool that can help facilitate full disclosure on Internet forums.

3. Miscellaneous Cyber Crime

Cyber Crime include spam, offensive comments, computer viruses/spyware, and hacking. (Which seems to be quite the problem on Facebook these days. Seen any weird automated wall posts on your news feed lately?) Cyber crimes like viruses/spyware and hacking are extremely unsettling; it's scary that someone else besides yourself is able to potentially access your computer and all its contents.