NCJ Number
161444
Journal
Justice Report Volume: 11 Issue: 3 Dated: (1996) Pages: 1,3-4
Date Published
1996
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This is a brief look at some of the issues facing the legal and judicial community as a result of the worldwide availability of computers and other technological innovations.
Abstract
Internet Service Providers, who enable private individuals and groups to connect to the Internet, are faced with a serious problem when clients use the service to post pornography or other objectionable material, or material protected by copyright. While many existing laws can be applied to the Internet, they were not written to take into consideration some of the unique aspects of the technology. How far, for example, does service providers' liability extend? Are they legally liable for everything that resides on their servers? What about material not on their servers but that can be obtained by using their servers, which one must do to navigate the Internet. Ill-thought-out proposals born of ignorance of the technology could force many service providers to simply give up. Some regulation is needed, but it should be based on laws formed by people who understand the technology and how it operates.