Freedom of speech and privacy on the Canadian Internet 1993-1998

Title: Freedom of speech and privacy on the Canadian Internet 1993-1998
Author: Tóth, András György
Source document: The Central European journal of Canadian studies. 2002, vol. 2, iss. [1], pp. 45-64
Extent
45-64
  • ISSN
    1213-7715 (print)
    2336-4556 (online)
Type: Article
Language
English
License: Not specified license
 

Notice: These citations are automatically created and might not follow citation rules properly.

Abstract(s)
This paper, the result of research conducted in 1998, takes an overview of a period of five years (1993-1998) on the Canadian Internet, looking for occurrences of controversial issues concerning free speech and privacy. A short historical review and a more detailed description of the theory behind free speech, as well as of the different actors interested in the development of the Internet, precede the actual overview of the issues at stake. As a rule, we can say that the intention of state institutions is to regulate the information flow on the Internet through censorship by limiting privacy. However, their attempts fail because of technological difficulties or simply the resistance of civil rights organizations specialized in Internet issues. Through the examples it presents, the paper wishes to provide guidance to the countries of the Central European region, who have yet to reach the stage of Internet development Canada knowns.
Cette étude est le résultat d'une recherche effectuée en 1998, et passe en revue une période de cinq ans (1993-1998) sur la partie canadienne d'Internet, en cherchant des occurrences de polémiques concemant la liberté de l'expression et la vie privée. Un court aperçu historique et une description plus détaillée de la théorie sur la liberté de l'expression et aussi des différents acteurs intéressés dans le développement de l'Internet, precedent l'examen concret des enjeux. En général, on peut dire que les institutions gouvemementales souhaiteraient réguler le flot ďinformation sur Internet à travers la censure ou bien en limitant le champ de la vie privée. Mais toutes leurs tentatives échouent à cause de difficultés technologiques ou simplement à cause de la résistance des organisations de droits civils spécialisés dans Internet. A travers les exemples qu'elle présente, cette étude désire montrer le chemin aux pays de l'Europe Centrále, qui n'ont pas encore atteint le niveau de développement ďlnternet que le Canada a déjà connu.

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