DISTRUPTIVE ONLINE BEHAVIOR
Thomas, D. (2002). Hacker Culture. Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota Press.
An in depth examination of the subculture of hackers and their relationship to computing and popular culture.
PRIVACY, ANONYMITY AND COPYRIGHT
Litman, J. (2001). Digital Copyright. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books.
Law professor Jessica Litman questions whether or not copyright laws make sense for ordinary consumers. She argues for common sense reforms to copyright laws that reflect the ways in which people behave in their daily digital interactions.
Harris, R. (2002, Sept. 4). Defunct Napster to Liquidate. FindLaw: Legal News and Commentary [Online], 2pp. Available at: http://news.findlaw.com/ap_stories/high_tech/1700/9-4-2002/20020904140006_05.html (September 14, 2002)
After a Delaware bankruptcy judge blocked the sale of Napster¹s assets to Bertelsmann, a global media giant, Napster fired its last 42 employees and shut down. Although Napster no longer exists, its legacy lives on because peer-to-peer file sharing is growing fast. As a result, Napster will always be remember as a catalyst of change in the digital era.
DEMOCRACY AND THE INTERNET
Barney, D. (2000). Prometheus Wired. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.
Although conventional wisdom would lead us to believe that the Internet will promote democracy by enabling citizens to access and share information, in contrast, Barney argues it will exacerbate the worst aspects of industrial capitalism.
Biegel, S. (2001). Beyond Our Control?. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press.
Biegel examines the extent to which the Internet is under control and provides a framework for thinking about the relationship between law and cyberspace. Included are traditional and international models of rules and agreements for cooperation along with a discussions about cyberterrorism and consumer rights.
Katz, J.E., Rice, R.E., & Aspden, P. (2001, November). The Internet, 1995-2000: Access, Civic Involvement, and Social Interaction. American Behavioral Scientist, Vol. 45, No. 3, pp. 405-419.
An Internet study comparing users to nonusers revealed that gender, age, household income, education and race differences between these groups are shrinking. But, there is still a way to go before the digital divide completely disappears. Public policy initiates should focus on extending Internet access to low-income families, the elderly, and African Americans. Additionally, Internet users tend to be more community and politically involved than nonusers.
Sunstein, C. (2002). Republic.com. Princeton, Princeton University Press.
The book exposes drawbacks to Internet usage and shows us how to use the Internet as responsible citizens, rather than concerned consumers by evaluating new technologies and free speech.
GLOBAL VILLAGE
Fathi, N. (2002, August 4). Taboo surfing: Click here for Iran . . .. The New York Times, p. WK5.
An article that describes how Iranian youths and women are using the Internet to share once forbidden stories. It is estimated that nearly two million Iranians are now online exchanging photos, downloading music, and engaging in chat.
Eckholm, E. (2002, August 4). . . .And click here for China. The New York Times, p. WK5.
China has been investing huge sums to wire the country to provide Internet access. Last January it was estimated that there are 37 million chinese Internet users. Presently, the Internet is becoming a voice for political change in China.
