I'm talking about businesses that operate primarily on the internet. I'm not sure how much you know about the origins of the internet ( and no, Al Gore wasn't involved with ARPANET that I know of
), but it was the democratic ideal of open communication that showed the value of linking the vast amounts of information in universities and research facilities throughout the U.S. and later the world. In its origin, a lot of eronious information was shown exactly as such, by the soul fact that more eyes examined the information. Anyway, I apologize if this sounds like instruction. Its just to set up the ground I feel the internet was founded on.
Well roll forward about 30 something years, and companies make their home on the internet that was designed to share information. Is it unethical for them to attempt to hinder the flow of information, i.e., act in a manner detrimental to the democratic ideal which maintains the internet? IMO, it seems a little parasitic, as it adds no value to internet and could be argued that it degrades the interenet.
But then so does spam- but thats a whole other subject
How it plays here is simply this. The internet bacame the power house it is by allowing various opinions and information. Had draconian control existed over it, it could never have prospered. I find it unethical when even small boards on the internet seem to have a need to tilt the information that is posted. The only reason they can exist is because information was allowed to flow freely.
This is mnore a philisophical question than anything. The world will not colapse because someone is censored on a small internet board - but, it degrades the internet even if its a very small amount. Imagine if it caught on:eek:
