Responsible netizens

The internet has proven to be a medium without borders as it allows us to communicate to practically anyone in the world. This form of communication is subject to the right of freedom of speech as provided under Article 19 of the United Nations' Bill of Rights as well as Article IV, sec. 7 of the Philippine Constitution in the case of us, Filipinos. At the same time, this freedom is not absolute--it should, by no means, imply a disregard and disrespect for the rights of others.

The ISOC, through the IAB, supports and promotes the need for a system of ethics to preserve the integrity of information on the internet. The group issued a policy statement in January 1989 listing the following as "unethical and unacceptable" behavior in the internet:
1. any activity that seeks to gain unauthorized access to resources on the internet
2. any activity that disrupts the intended use of the internet
3. any activity that wastes resources (people, capacity, computer) through such actions
4. any activity that destroys the integrity of computer-based information
5. any activity that compromises the privacy of others

While we have laws, as we have discussed in class yesterday, and policies such as the one by ISOC above, self-policing is ultimately necessary given the nature of the internet. Each of us is called to be a responsible netizen (online citizen).

Now here's what I want you to do:
- WRITE an approximately 500-word essay (you can go below or higher by about 50 words either way) about how you can personally be a responsible netizen, specifically in view of the blog that your group will be putting up.

- DO NOT POST your essay here. SUBMIT A HARD COPY in class on Tuesday, August 14.

- We will post the essays here with the top three highest grades later on.

- Format requirements: size 10-12 font, double-spaced, 1-inch left and right margins, use of recycled paper encouraged