The Internet and Democracy
The ease of publishing material on the World Wide Web makes it a powerful medium for free speech. Since freedom of expression is one of the cornerstones of democracy, the ease of creating a webpage expands the ability of people to have their say, no matter how unpopular their views. (On the other hand, the lack of any editorial oversight on the Web results in a bizarre bazaar of information of varying quality, in which any lunatic can air their crackpot views.) The Web is thus a tool that encourages democracy and democratic values.
The World Wide Web need not be a one-way medium in which webpage creators "speak" to webpage readers. If a webpage has a Java applet or Web form, the reader of such a page can interact with and respond to that page. Many see this as a means of improving democracy. For example, a senator or representative might use an interactive webpage to get input from their constituents on current issues. Similarly, voters might register to vote, or even vote through interactive webpages. Some have even proposed that the U.S. Congress be disbanded and replaced by a pure democracy in which "we the people" decide issues by voting from home computers!
The point is that the simplicity of creating webpages allows people to express their views, and interactive webpages allow viewers to respond. This, coupled with the rapid growth (and hence popularity) of the Internet makes it a powerful force for democracy. Of course, the rulers of non-democratic countries may find this openness threatening, and thus seek to control citizens' access to the Internet through censorship
This page was written by
Joel Adams.
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