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The Internet and Social Media: Tools of Freedom or Tools of Oppression?
Freedom movements around the world are using Twitter and Facebook to express dissent and to organize, particularly in the Middle East. It might be fair to say that the Internet is becoming the platform for political liberation. But the "just add Internet" thesis has its skeptics, who argue that, in fact, the Internet may give authoritarian governments the upper hand. Social media platforms are very amenable to government surveillance, and revolution doesn't come easy, online or off. Should lovers of freedom be saying "Internet FTW!" or is it one big "#InternetFAIL"?
This cutting edge debate took place at the Cato Insitute on Friday, February 25th. The event archive will soon be updated, and made available here.
Ask the Expert: Can Businesses Transact with Gold on the Internet?
Jim Harper, Director of Information Policy Studies at the Cato Institute and government regulation guru, presents the case for transacting business on the Internet with precious metals as currency and the reasons why governments aren't likely to support it. Companies have offered platforms that facilitate alternative payment methods in the past. However, the U.S. government typically cracks down on these ventures citing that the anonymity and inherent lack of oversight that such a system offers draw attention from more criminal minds. There are additional reasons why governments may be interested in stomping out this concept of free-market business interaction, and Harper speculates on a few of them as well.
The FCC Should Not Regulate the Internet
Cato information technology scholar Jim Harper says that government involvement in the Internet industry is a bad idea. He bases this on two main reasons. First, the premise for the regulation is wrong; consumers won't simply roll over to the ISPs. They watch their own backs, and even more so as the Internet itself facilitates this process. Second, the major assumption in favor of government regulation is that the regulators are able to do a better job than consumers. Ultimately, says Harper, regulation inhibits the free flow of ideas, and Net Neutrality regulation is therefore a bad idea.
American Exceptionalism: The Great U-Turn
Has the U.S. prospered because of “American Exceptionalism,” or could other factors be at play? James Bennett outlines an excellent history of why America differs from most other developed, English-speaking countries. The reason for the successful growth of the U.S. economy over the past 50 years directly relates to its turn from popular and trending socialism and its embrace of markets – supported democratically and legislatively. This was a practical U-turn from where most developed societies were headed in the mid-20th century. While the “socialism gap,” as Bennett calls it, has narrowed recently due to much of the world shifting toward freer markets and the U.S. expanding its progressive policies, the nurtured nature of the American public is to buck extensive government oversight and react democratically to correct things (i.e. Look out in November).
Debate: The Role of the State in Online Privacy
In the age of rapid Internet expansion and information-based advertising, personal information available online is a matter of increasing policy concern. Some feel the risks of abuse are a clear call for increased government regulation, while others argue that personal responsibility and market forces will best deal with the rising issues. In a week-long debate on the Economist.com, Cato scholar Jim Harper sides with the market and individual choice. He points out that there are tradeoffs that many are willing to make for the benefits the Internet provides, and people’s preferences vary in a way that regulations would restrict. Stay tuned to the debate here, and offer your comments for the scholars to address.
A Captive of the Industry
Net-neutrality is a common term that few understand. Google and Verizon recently submitted a proposal on the topic (basically asking for regulations on the Internet) to the U.S. government. What does all this mean to a libertarian? Cato tech scholar Jim Harper explains the situation, discusses the risk of "regulatory capture," and proposes solutions for moving forward. If you've been keeping tabs on where the Internet is going, you may want to take a look.
Video: Young World Revolution!
The youth generation in the developing world is being readied to take the tech world by storm -- in fact, it's already happening. Reason's Dan Hayes interviews author Rob Salkowitz about his new book Young World Rising: How Youth, Technology and Entrepreneurship are Changing the World from the Bottom Up. He offers some interesting insight into the future of the tech economy and the 'young world.'
It's a WikiLeaks World, Get Used to It
Cato technology scholar Jim Harper analyzes the recent and growing trend of information “leaks” – most notably those involving classified government documents and the Internet site WikiLeaks. The military has long relied on secrecy to conduct its missions and operations, but as the information age advances and culture changes, the ability to keep things a secret becomes increasingly difficult. To Harper, that growing difficulty is cause for a dramatic new strategy, for both military and other organizations: hide as little information as possible and become more transparent. “Information technology is a strong and growing adversary, and it is better to turn its strengths to one's advantage than to waste resources trying to fight against it.”
What Drives the Economy?
Consumer spending, often heralded as the leading indicator of an economy's health, is nothing more than an indicator of real driver of the economy: investment. Long time investment advisor and former Foundation for Economic Education president, Mark Skousen explains how, when counted correctly, "consumption represents only about 30 percent of the economy, while business investment represents over 50 percent." Consumers are the ones who ultimately buy things businesses produce, but entrepreneurs rely on investment to discover new markets and to develop new technologies. In fact, Skousen remarks, we have personal savings and investment to thank for such things as personal computers, SUVs, the Internet, and the iPhone.
Gambling: Free to Lose?
Gambling has been around for much of human history. But as it grows from a local practice to an international online phenomenon worth $335 billion, people begin raising questions. Cato scholar Radley Balko participates in the Economist's debate series, on the resolution: "This house believes there should be no legal restrictions on gambling." Blako describes many practical reasons why gambling creates perverse incentives, but says that the best reason to legalize gambling is upon the grounds of individual liberty. "If liberty means anything at all, it means the freedom to make our own choices about our own lives, our money, our habits and how we spend our leisure time, even if they happen to be choices other people would not make for themselves." Check out the debate and share your thoughts here.
The Myth of the Model
“Most people don’t notice it, but “model” may be the most dangerous word in the English language right now. Models justify a lot of the bad policies that have been, or soon will be, foisted on us,” says Max Borders, writing in the June 2010 Freeman. Explaining how society has come to rely on models, and how that reliance has come to cripple us, Borders says “economies are not pumps to be primed, but economic ecosystems. Economists are thus notoriously bad at predicting, much less planning, economies.” Therefore, he advocates that, moving forward, economics should focus on the fundamentals, not magic models that carry an air of accuracy but are most often defunct in reality.
Whole-Body Imaging: Intrusion Without Security
Writing for the Foundation for Economic Education, Becky Akers describes the FTA's rollout of full-body imaging in airport screenings, technology that provides a plethora of conversation starters but no dramatic increase in security. The imaging, which reveals practically everything under one's clothes, can be adjusted to protect privacy and only detect dense items, like guns, but then it misses softer items like plastic explosives. Akers conveys the sort of graphic trade-offs such policies will assuredly produce. Hinting at the ballooning costs of broad-scale adoption, Akers offers a solution: entrust security decisions to the professionals rather than politicians. This would not only save tax payers money, but it would also align business interest with safety because “airlines have all the incentive we could ask to institute practical, effective security.”
Friday Event: The Great Copyright Debate
Information technology and intellectual property have become integral parts of everyday life, but how can they blend together in a way that promotes ownership and trade? Cato Director of Information Policy Studies Jim Harper will present at a student forum on the policy considerations of copyright, April 30th, at 4:00pm (EST). The event will be held at the Cato Institute, in Washington D.C., and broadcast live here. The event will be followed by a wine, cheese and beer reception with Cato scholars and staff. Register for free on the link above.
Politicians Keep your Flights Delayed
'As the holiday travel rush approaches, air travelers grounded by delays should take a moment to think about why they're stuck in airports or on the tarmac. There's a good chance Washington is to blame,' says a recent Reason.tv video. The technology used in current U.S. air traffic control is basically the same system that was used decades ago. Countries like Canada have already adapted to market-based, privately organized systems. This video explains why the U.S. should follow suit.
No Thanks, Net Nannies
'Net Neutrality' is a funny way to say 'government control of the internet,' but that's what regulators are calling it. Reason editor Peter Suderman explains the issue, and what's at stake. The government, along with several big businesses who would benefit from such regulation, is trying to strong-arm and mislead the public, saying that regulation is needed to protect the Internet. But Suderman asks, "Isn't it usually true that the best way of preserving a system that's almost universally agreed to be working quite well already is to leave it alone?" Time will tell how well Obama, his administrators and his big business friends get with their pursuit of control. If you thought GM was a big takeover, what about the whole Internet?!