Traffic Cops Needed on Information Highway?

From NSwiki, the NationStates encyclopedia.
Jump to: navigation, search
Spoiler warning: Unconfirmed details about a NationStates issue follow.
Issue #37
Traffic Cops Needed on Information Highway?
Author Snowcat
Editor
Date added
Subject internet
Main category (?) free speech
Number of options 3

The Traffic Cops Needed on Information Highway? issue is about the trade off between freedom of information and the right to privacy versus increased security and reduced crime rates due to monitoring communication.

Issue

Certain shadowy ministerial figures have proposed government monitoring of individual internet usage.

Debate options

  1. "In these days of terror and uncertainty, it's exactly what we need," says @@RANDOMNAME@@, signing an arrest warrant. "Every pervert, terrorist, bomb-building maniac and anti-government idiot is currently online. I'm not saying that we should block citizens from seeing it, but let's also watch who's seeking it out. This will give our law enforcement officers the chance to prevent crimes before they happen. If you've done nothing wrong, you've got nothing to hide."
  2. "Well, I AM saying we should block out that filth," says a man in a dark hat, stepping from the shadows. "If people want to use the internet, they can view our government-approved sites. Those are swell."
  3. Privacy activist @@RANDONNAME@@ is outraged, as usual. "Tyranny is the natural result of limiting information! Someone, somewhere, will always find something offensive -- mimes for example. Those scare the hell out of me. But should we ban them? No! Free the internet! We have nothing to fear from free information but pop-up advertising!"

Domestic impacts

Option 1

The following game text is added to nations choosing this option:

?

It is believed that the first option significantly decreases Civil Freedoms and also significantly decreases the crime rate.

Option 2

The following game text is added to nations choosing this option:

?

It is believed that the second option ...

Option 3

The following game text is added to nations choosing this option:

bizarre-looking creatures called 'burrowing owldogs' dominate wildlife preserves

It is believed that the third option slightly increases Civil Freedoms and slightly increases Political Apathy.

United Nations impact

TBA

Additional materials

Retrieved from "http://archive.nswiki.org/index.php?title=Traffic_Cops_Needed_on_Information_Highway%3F&oldid=281389"