Legislation

At the time that the original White Papers were written, there were no known laws regulating credibility on the World Wide Web. Unfortunately, to date, there are still no laws that govern material placed on the Internet. However, Congress did pass the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) and the Neighborhood Children’s Internet Protection Act (N-CIPA). Both of these help monitor and regulate Internet access in schools. Although these acts do not directly relate to credibility, they show a significant attempt to regulate the Internet and to develop laws relating to the Internet.

Similarly, there are not any current bills that are being proposed that directly relate to Web credibility issues. However, there are two bills that relate to consumer protection on the Internet: HR 237 Consumer Internet Privacy Enhancement Act and HR 347 Consumer Online Privacy Disclosure Act. Again, these bills demonstrate the possibilities of seeing more Internet regulation in the future (2002).

Lastly, the Federal Trade Commission will continue to enforce its consumer protection laws online. This will ensure that products and services promoted in online ads are truthful. All of these attempts to regulate different components of the Internet suggest further possible regulation of the Internet in the future. Further regulation would put significant limitations on the vastness of the Internet; however, it could also ensure that the information obtained from the Web was from a credible source. This, in turn, could lessen the user’s responsibility for the evaluation of credibility that is necessary with today’s use of Internet information.

Mobility

According to the original White Papers, “The most wonderful and useful aspect of the Internet is that a person can find the most up-to-date information immediately from almost anywhere in the world on almost any topic with just the click of a mouse” (Greer, et al, 1999). For example, in 1999, the United States faced the crisis in Kosovo. On September 11, 2002, four United States planes were hijacked by terrorists in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania killing more than 3,000 people in a matter of hours. In both of these events, the Internet played similar roles. On September 11, the Internet offered updated news of the occurring events on sites including msnbc.com, nbc.com, abc.com, and cnn.com. In addition to these news sites, other sites offered information on the search for Osauma Bin Lauden, or on the most recent list of the number of people still missing in rubble buried under the Twin Towers. The Internet provided instant links to more than 500 international newspapers. There were links to pictures and video clips of events immediately after the tragedy occurred. Some of these sites were intended to keep the public aware; however, less credible sites may have been posted maliciously or sadly for entertainment.

After the September 11 attack, Bush heightened Internet security and hired anti-terrorism advisors to monitor the Internet. In support of this, “The U. S. House of Representatives . . . handily approved an anti-terrorism bill that gives law enforcement officials expanded surveillance powers to monitor Internet behavior, and email as well as financial transaction, and provides for heavier punishment for terrorists” (Lyman, 2001).

Lack of Representation

As expressed in the 1999 White Paper on Web credibility, despite the fact that there are “. . . hundreds of millions of pages present on the Web, these sites only represent the minority of the world’s population” (Greer, et al, 1999). Although it is true that there are many countries that may never gain Internet access, research shows that an increasing number of countries are gaining access. Since 1999, the following research has shown changes in access among various groups of gender and ethnicity.

The United States is making strides to include more minorities and women on the Internet. According to Nielson NetRatings 49.5% of all Internet users in the United States are women, which means, “The gender gap between men and women using the Internet has virtually evaporated in the United States” (Glasner, 1999). However, in contrast, Nielson NetRatings reports that women still spend less time using the Internet (2001).

According to figures from NUA, a research group that compiles information about Internet activities, and Nielson NetRatings, the African American online population increased by 44% to 8.1 million between December 1999 and December 2000. Likewise, Internet use among Hispanics grew by 19% to more than 4.7 million people, while the number of Asian American Internet users reached 2.1 million, and increase of 18% (NUA, 2001).

Developed by Kery Strysick, Curriculum Technology Education Reform, University of Illinois. Any questions or comments should be directed to the author at strysike@cmi.k12.il.us.

Last updated on July 29, 2002