The Internet is a network of networks. Computers across the world are connected through it. Text, audio, video, and other computer files are all found on it. People can chat with other people across the world with it. The Internet brings information right to your computer. Need to research space travel, you can find it on the Internet. Want sound bytes of the presidents speech, you can find it on the Internet. The Internet holds more information than the Library of Congress and once your connected the information is all free.

The Internet has become a place were people can freely express their views. The instantaneous nature of the Internet makes it one of the most interactive forms of media. Web pages posted by ind

Luckily people are fighting against this atrocity. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) is one of the leaders in the battle against Internet censorship. if you have logged onto the net you have seen a blue ribbon on almost every page, this is the mark of EFF. It asks web developers, webpage makers, and anyone having anything to do with the net to put these ribbons on their page as to point out that they do not support net censorship. the EFF has also set up a "MagNetiX". This program finds your representative in congress and send a letter to his saying how you do not support Internet censorship. they have also set up information sessions around the nation, so interested parties can learn what they can do to further the fight against censorship.

Congress has stretched this pornography on the net issue just a little far. Yes, it does exist and yes, children do come across it but, censoring the net ill not reduce the child's exposure to it. Movies, TV, and other forms of media will more than make up for the lack of sex and violence found on the net (decency or censorship 1). If you are going to censor the net you will have to censor movies, TV, magazines, the news....the list goes on and on. This however will never happen because it would violate the first amendment. Well the Internet is a type of media so why does censoring it not violate the first amendment?

O.K. so the government wants to restrict our voices on the Internet, well this does violate our rights but lets say we give in. Next thing you know the government will be trying to limit the press, repress some religions, and restrict or get rid of some of our other rights. We need liberty, without it we can't think, create, and achieve our potential. If the government can take away our right to speak freely, which is a huge right, what is to stop it from taking away any right it wants? The nation will fall back into a dictatorship, rights will mean nothing since the government will do with you what it sees fit.

ividuals can contain their ideas on certain social, political, and economical policies. Since the entire world is on-line their aspect is viewed by millions. This can be a powerful tool if you want to spread your opinion fast.

Another example of how governments are trying to control the web is the CompuServe issue. In December of 1995 all the users of CompuServe, an American based online service, found out that they could not access 200 usenet groups. An usenet group

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1675
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)