During the past year especially, the internet has attracted much popularity. Increasingly more consumers are subscribing to on-line services, either because they have become aware of the many functions and facilities offered by both the various private services and their access to the generic internet, or because it is the thing to do these days. Everyone wants to become a member of world-wide-web. And now, because the system is replete with a wide gamut of information about practically anything in the world, as well as freely shared personal opinions and critiques, the computer medium, the newest addition to the so-called "information superhighway," has raised an interesting controversy: Just how far can one person go on the internet? The question is not easily answered, much to the chagrin of some politicians. It seems that the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution is continually being put to the test in all media. But the electronic medium is especially delicate. Much like television, information received through a computer modem can be represented by words, illustrations, and sound. In that sense, one could conclude that these two media are most powerful due to the way in which information is received. However, what separates these two is that, while television transmittal is restricted to television networks, anyone may transmit information over the internet out of the comfort of their own home. And while all of what is shown on television is edited before broadcast, individually transmitted information on the internet, however indecent to some readers, is not censored -- at least not until now.
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Author E-mail: Benjamin Irom