Communication Law and Policy: Laws for Protection of Freedom of Expression and Online Content

This article discusses the laws for protection of freedom of expression in the United States and issues related to online content on Internet. It covers topics such as First Amendment, defamation, Child Online Protection Act (COPA), Internet censorship, and more. The article also highlights the need for proper use of the Internet and rules to protect children from harmful material.

Running Head: COMMUNICATION LAW AND POLICY 0
Communication Law and Policy
Individual Assignment
Student name

Communication Law and Policy 1
Table of Contents
Introduction.................................................................................................................................................2
Communication Law and Policy...................................................................................................................2
Conclusion...................................................................................................................................................3
References...................................................................................................................................................4

Communication Law and Policy 2
Introduction
I learnt about laws for protection of freedom of expression in the United States and issues related
to online content on Internet from chapter 5. In addition, I understand about First Amendment
and different laws for defamation. In First amendment, which was related to protection of
American’s rights, such as freedom of religion, freedom of expression, and Freedom of speech.
Child Online Protection Act (referred as COPA) is about rights to speak and access online
content. Societies needed to protect children from harmful material, as well as restriction on that
type of material.
Communication Law and Policy
It was First Amendment right to receive and obtain communication. It is about freedom of
speech, in different cases, such as nonverbal, visual and symbolic forms of expression. I learnt
about Section 230 of the Communication Decency Act provides immunity from defamation
clams to Internet Service Providers (referred as ISP’s) and websites owners for material posted
by third parties. I learnt that website owner’s immunity from liability for defamation statement
posted by third parties. In addition, I learnt about Defamation, it would occur in two types one is
Oral defamatory statements, and second is written defamatory statements, which are solved by
230 act of COPA.
COPA apply some penalties against exposing minors to harmful material on the Web sites. The
Supreme Court make a rule for block these types of data, which are inappropriate or offensive
for social life. Also, give power to software companies to make Internet filters to block access to
certain websites, which contain harmful material. I learnt that in some cases penalties resulting in
a loss of funds would lead to a less accessibility of internet in poorer areas.
A big issue in front of web hosting companies is Internet Censorship. They will control of the
publishing or accessing of information on the internet from different users. For that they will be
do some needful actions, such as limiting access to certain websites, limited access on certain
websites, limitation on search engine searches, make logs of internet activities of individuals. ,
jailing individuals for internet use. There should be some rules for any person to access the

Communication Law and Policy 3
internet and do not hide their identity on Internet. Children are base of societies and grow social
values and it will be beneficial for societies. Children’s Internet Protection Act of United States
state that mandated Internet filter in the public libraries.
I also learnt that youth in world are routinely exposed to pornography, among 15-20 years olds.
They are accessing pornographic websites, as they about internet pornography are a particularly
pervasive source of minor’s exposure to pornography. It is too difficult to filter all these websites
and sexually explicit materials from the Internet.
Conclusion
I learnt from the previous discussion that, Internet is a very useful thing, but it has many
disadvantages in terms of accessing and uploading inappropriate material for others. Children are
so sensitive to affected from bad things.
I found that on the Internet lots of harmful materials for children, so limitation is highly required.
Many organization and First amendment is helping to control accessing of harmful material from
Internet. Finally, it is concluded that use of Internet is good but in proper way and for good
purposes. It concluded that the acts should have rules to the right to speech and the benefits of
society.
References
DiGiose, N., 2013. Protecting Children-The Evolution of the First Amendment: A Historical
Timeline of Children and Their Access to Pornography and Violence. Pace L. Rev, 33(1), p. 462.

Communication Law and Policy 4
Hindman , E. . B., 2009. Protecting Childhood: Rights, Social Goals and the First Amendment in
the Context of the Child Online Protection Act. Communication Law and Policy, 15(1), pp. 1-23.
Roberts, J. K., 2011. Internet DEFAMATION DEFENDING YOUR NAME. Forensic
Examiner, 20(3), p. 19.
Scott, M. D., 2012. Would a “right of reply” f ix Section 230 of the Communications Decency
Act?. International Journal of Law and Information Technology, 20(1), pp. 73-81.
SMITH, B. H., 2013. The First Amendment Right to Receive Online Information in Public
Libraries. Communication Law and Policy, 18(1), pp. 63-89.