The Internet and the Law

In the last few years, the Internet has been changing the face of society in new and unexpected ways, and the legal system has been attempting to adjust to these changes. The major problem has been in trying to apply a legal code grounded in paradigms from two centuries ago to a society where many of those paradigms no longer apply. Some of the issues which must be addressed include: online voice and audio services, the rights of attribution and integrity, online identities and anonymity, and Internet jurisdictions and rules enforcement. The legal questions raised in these areas are still in the process of being discussed and debated both in and out of the courts and legislatures; only time will tell what the conclusions will be. It is vitally important for those who will be affected by these questions and decisions to help in the development of a legal system which adequately addresses the unique challenges presented by the Internet. INTRODUCTION The Internet has been called everything from the "information superhighway" to "a cacophonous international debate with a million voices on everything from copyright policy to scientology to the best ways to play Doom II." [1] In just a few short years, it has gone from a government project of interest primarily to academia to a significant force in the shaping of our society. The evidence indicates that this is only the beginning – every day the technology continues to evolve and develop, to allow for faster connections, more users, and a greater variety of information. But, for all the excitement that these changes generate, and for all the obvious benefits, only the most optimistic would try to argue that the Internet is a completely benign force. For every gain in ease of communication, opportunity for collaboration, and wider information distribution, one can find new forms of crime, ease of conspiracy, and greater secrecy for perpetrators. The laws and those who make and