Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

This visionary book presents an interdisciplinary and cogent approach to the issue of Internet governance and control. By examining five critical areas in which the tension between freedom and control is most palpable--fair competition and open access, free expression, intellectual property, privacy rights, and security--Spinello guides the reader on a tour of the emerging body of law and public policy that has attempted to control the anarchy of cyberspace. In so doing, he defends the credo of Internet self-regulation, asserting that the same powerful and flexible architectures that created the Internet as we know it today can be relied upon to aid the private sector in arriving at a workable, decentralized regulatory regime. Except in certain circumstances that require government involvement, self-regulation is not only viable but is a highly preferred alternative to the forced uniformity that centralized structures tend to impose.

Beginning with an exploration of the Internet's most important values, including universality, free expression, and open access, as well as its promise as a democratizing force, Spinello considers how we can most effectively preserve those values and fulfill that promise while curtailing the social harms that vex Internet users. How do we arrive at the right mixture of technology and policy so that the Internet does not lose its promise as a liberating technology? In examining this question, Spinello evaluates such architectures of control as filters and rights management protocols, which attempt to keep out unwanted information and protect intellectual property, respectively. He explores how these and other technologies can be designed and used responsibly so that online social order can be sustained with a minimal amount of government intervention.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• Preface (p. ix)
• References (p. xi)
• Acknowledgments (p. xiii)
• 1 Global Connectivity and Internet Access (p. 1)
• 2 Creating and Regulating the Internet (p. 21)
• 3 Decentralizing Regulation (p. 47)
• 4 Electronic Commerce and the Network Economy (p. 65)
• 5 Competition and Antitrust Issues in Cyberspace (p. 77)
• 6 Freedom of Expression and Content Controls (p. 109)
• 7 Intellectual Property Wars and Knowledge Monopolies (p. 143)
• 8 Privacy Rights and the Internet (p. 175)
• 9 Cybercrime, Encryption, and Government Surveillance (p. 205)
• References (p. 229)
• 10 Epilogue (p. 231)
• References (p. 237)
• Index (p. 239)
• About the Author (p. 247)

Reviews provided by Syndetics

CHOICE Review

Spinello (Carroll School of Management, Boston College) closely examines Internet regulation, focusing on five key areas: fair competition and open access, free expression, intellectual property, privacy rights, and security. He takes an in-depth look at the debate in each of these areas, sorting through and clearly articulating the multitude of issues. Spinello carefully describes the most pertinent legal cases, public policies, and technological developments, providing a well-rounded view of cyberspace regulation in the US. In addition, he delves into Internet regulation in other countries, comparing and contrasting current US policy with that of the European Union. Spinello always frames his discussion in terms of the social and economic impact of regulation. He sees regulation as a delicate balancing act and believes technology itself can act as a regulatory force; as a result, he favors self-regulation and technological solutions, with a minimal amount of government intervention. However, he acknowledges that stricter government controls such as those imposed by the European Union may be necessary. Overall, this book is an excellent, comprehensive resource providing valuable insight. General readers; lower-division undergraduates; professionals. K. A. Coombs SUNY College at Cortland