Chapter 3: Questions from Dr. RSM

In your own words define the phrase ‘least restrictive means'.
"Least restrictive means" refers to the fact that the government should use the least amount of intrusion in the internet, and idea supported by the Supreme Court's decision concerning the Communications Decency Act (Baase, 147). A lot of people believe in this principle as they see the internet as nothing more than a "participatory form of mass speech", and therefore requires a very little amount of government intrusion (147).

Why is this term important? How does it effect Freedom of Speech. Why or why not?
This term is very important, being that it recognizes that the government cannot do much to limit freedom of speech on the internet. For one, the Telecommunications Act recognizes that the common carrier is not the publisher of information on the net, and therefore cannot be prosecuted against by the government (Baase, 147). Freedom of speech is affected, as for other forms of media such as broadcasting devices, government control is extensive (146). However, the internet is arguably even more expansive than these broadcasting companies, however because of the publishing issues they are better protected under the first amendment.

Do you consider the Internet an appropriate tool for young children? Why or why not?
I do not consider the Internet an appropriate tool for children. Despite the possible learning that can be done, there is still shady material on the web; after all, there are 400,000 pornography sites, and the fact that it's growing daily makes it very hard for any internet filter to keep it all out of the hands of children (Baase, 150). In one case, a child even accessed pornography at a library, and was able to save it and print out copies for his friends (157). The internet is a very intriguing tool, but I believe it is much better suited for a more mature audience.